Colorado Native Zach Bastres played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2022-2024), and the Miami Sharks (2025).

A native of Erie, CO, Bastres played football and tennis up until his sophomore year at Monarch High School when he began playing rugby. The team won the D1 State Championship in 2017, his senior year. Bastres attended the University of Northern Colorado between 2017-2021, playing rugby throughout where he was selected to the D2 Rocky Mountain All-Conference Team in 2019, and earning multiple MVP titles at UNC. Bastres declared for the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected in the 3rd Round, 34th overall, by the New England Free Jacks, who he signed with for the 2022 season.

Bastres would represent the Free Jacks for three MLR seasons, earning 5 starts in 13 games and scoring 2 tries. The Free Jacks would claim back-to-back MLR Shields in 2023-2024 with Bastres a depth member of the squad. He completed a career high 30 tackles in 2024, averaging 10 tackles a game in a very deep Free Jacks squad. On 26th December 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Zach Bastres as a free agent for the 2025 season, his 4th in MLR and first not on the Free Jacks.

Achievements

• 2024 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
• 2023 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
• 2021 MLR Draftee: 34th Overall – New England Free Jacks