US-Eligible New Zealand flanker Joe ‘The Mechanic’ Johnston played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2023, and again in 2025. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Johnston captained the Bay of Plenty U19 squad in 2017, earning a contract with the Bay of Plenty senior side whom he has played with for every NPC season since 2019. Johnston’s move stateside was announced by the New England Free Jacks in September 2020, ahead of the 2021 MLR season. He was a regular starter in the Free Jacks lineup during his time in New England, earning 48 total caps (37 starts) and scoring 8 tries. He recorded 195 tackles in 2021, finishing 7th in MLR, and improved this in 2022 with a total of 220 tackles, again finishing 7th in MLR. He appeared in 17 games during both 2022 and in 2023, and the final season of his first stint in MLR saw Johnston racking up over 500m gained and completing 161 tackles, and finished as an MLR Champion after defeating the San Diego Legion 24-25 in Chicago.

On 1st December 2023, the New England Free Jacks announced the departure of Joe Johnston, who returned to his native New Zealand to complete his education. He represented Bay of Plenty in the 2024 NPC in New Zealand, and following a year out of MLR, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Joe Johnston on November 7th, 2024, ahead of the 2025 MLR season.

Achievements

• 2023 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
• 7th in MLR Tackling: 2022 (220)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 7
• MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 5
• 7th in MLR Tackling: 2021 (195)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 18
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 13
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 3