Jermaine Ainsley (born 8 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who currently plays as a prop for the Otago Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition after previously being with the Rebels.[1][2]

Jermaine Ainsley
Date of birth (1995-08-08) 8 August 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthCromwell, New Zealand
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight125 kg (19 st 10 lb; 276 lb)
SchoolOtago Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Otago, Highlanders
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2017 Perth Spirit 16 (5)
2016–2017 Force 17 (0)
2018–2020 Rebels 43 (0)
2018–2019 Melbourne Rising 10 (0)
2021– Otago 7 (0)
2022– Highlanders 13 (0)
Correct as of 16 July 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Australia 3 (0)
2022 Māori All Blacks 1 (0)
Correct as of 16 July 2022

Early life

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Born and raised in New Zealand, Ainsley moved to Western Australia in search of his big break in the game. He represented Western Australia at under-20 level before turning out for the Force's A team. He played an important role in the Nedlands club's victory in the Pindan RugbyWA Premier Grade (1st Grade) competition in 2015.

Rugby career

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Ainsley was selected by the Perth Spirit for the 2015 National Rugby Championship season. He played in nine matches in total for the Spirit in 2015, starting two of them and this secured him a spot in the Western Force's wider training group ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.[2][3][4]

Injuries to props Tetera Faulkner and Francois van Wyk gave Ainsley the opportunity to earn valuable game time during his debut campaign. He earned his first cap in Round 1 against the Melbourne Rebels and played in nine of the Force's fifteen matches that year, one of which was as a starter. This form earned him a new 2-year contract to keep him at the Force until 2018.[5]

After the Force were excluded from the Super rugby competition, Ainsley moved to join the Melbourne Rebels in 2018 and, later that year, signed an extended deal with the club to stay in Melbourne through to 2020.[1]

Super Rugby statistics

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As of 12 September 2020[6]
Season Team Games Start Sub Mins T C PG DG Pts YC RC
2016 Force 9 1 8 155 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017 Force 8 7 1 406 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 Rebels 15 9 6 664 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 Rebels 15 8 7 609 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 Rebels 5 4 1 265 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 AU Rebels 8 5 3 429 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 60 34 26 2537 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life

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Ainsley is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Te Rarawa and Te Arawa descent).[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Wallabies and Rebels lock in promising prop". rugby.com.au. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Jermaine Ainsley looks to continue rapid rise in 2016". Western Force. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Jermaine Ainsley Player Profile". Rugby WA. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Jermaine Ainsley Rugby Australia Player Profile". Rugby Australia. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Cowan and Ainsley ink new deals to 2018". Western Force. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "Jermaine Ainsley itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Player Profile: Jermaine Ainsley". All Blacks (Official Site). Retrieved 17 March 2024.