Joe Johnston

Joe Johnston (born 31 January 1998) is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for the New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby (MLR). His preferred position is flanker.

Johnston has earned the nickname "the mechanic" for his workmanlike and dogged performances on the field along with his tackling abilities.

Professional career Johnston signed for Major League Rugby side New England Free Jacks ahead of the 2021 Major League Rugby season. He had previously represented in the 2019 and 2020 seasons of the Mitre 10 Cup, while he was also selected to play for the China Lions in the 2020 Global Rapid Rugby season.

During the 2021 season Johnston would start all 14 games he appeared in for the Free Jacks scoring three tries. The following year during the 2022 season he appeared in 17 games starting 13 and once again scored three tries, as he and the Free Jacks reached the MLR eastern conference semifinals. He would then join Waikato in the National Provincial Championship (NPC) to finish out the 2023 season.

In 2025 he would rejoin the Free Jacks after missing the penalty season and claimed his 50th cap for the team on February 3. Captaining the team Johnston would help the free jacks win their 3rd straight MLR championship appearing in 19 games making 17 starts and scoring 2 tries. He also posted 224 successful tackles, while carrying for 362 meters.

In 2026, Johnston returned to the Free Jacks once again captaining the club, he made 7 starts for the club but missed three weeks due to a hand injury. He and the Free Jacks missed the postseason. Like previous seasons he once again returned to Bay of Plenty following the end of the MLR season.

Honours New England Free Jacks

Major League Rugby Championship: 2x (2023, 2025) Bay of Plenty

Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division: (2019)

Personal life Johnston's mother grew up in Boston and his father played rugby in New England.

After the 2023 MLR season Johnston made the decision to go back to New Zealand and finished his degree in business management, and worked construction. He would eventually return to the sport playing club rugby and winning the Baywide Championship with Te Puke. This would lead to him going back to pro rugby with Bay of Plenty and his eventual return to the USA.