Waltham Firefighter Wins Trip To Europe

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham Firefighter Steve Hopkins won a halftime contest for free roundtrip airfare to Europe at a rugby halftime competition Sunday in Weymouth.

The New England Free Jacks, the area's first professional rugby club, which competes out of Union Point in Weymouth, dedicated the match and half-time event to essential workers. Police, fire and EMS responders were in attendance. One from each category were chosen for the half-time "Delta Dizzy Bat Drop Kick" competition.

The three essential workers had to do five spins around a whiffle ball bat, then drop-kick a rugby ball through the goal posts. Hopkins and Weymouth EMS responder both were able to do just that, so to break the tie, they had to try it again after 10 spins around the bat.

That time, neither made it. And neither were able to drop-kick the ball through the goal post a second time even without the spinning, so after a sudden death rock-paper-scissors, Hopkins won the Delta Air Lines flight.

"We were very excited to honor them, and everything they've done over the past year during a tumultuous time of COVID, and the sacrifices they made within the professions they have," said Jordon Borrosh, events coordinator for the New England Free Jacks.

Hopkins, a Waltham High School and Bentley alum, is no stranger to the sports field: He played football at both. He has worked for the Waltham Fire Department since 2014.

The New England Free Jacks started up in 2018, but its first full professional rugby season was set for 2020, until that was cut short from the pandemic. This has been the first full year for the team with four more matches left in the season, said Oliver Engelhart, who works with the team.

"It's brilliant," he said of watching Hopkins and the others participate in the half time show. "Getting more folks playing rugby in a fun environment, getting different groups engaged and learning the game is a fantastic day for us."

Englehart said 120 people participated in a touch rugby game before the game, with participants ranging from high school through adults.

On the field,New England defeated Old Glory DC 38-34, to improve to 6-5 for the season.