James Lentjes

Last updated

James Lentjes
Full nameJames Anthony Richard Lentjes
Date of birth (1991-01-16) 16 January 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Christchurch, New Zealand
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb; 229 lb)
School St. Bede's College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2014–2022 Otago 62 (80)
2015−2023 Highlanders 69 (35)
Correct as of 18 July 2023

James Anthony Richard Lentjes (born 16 January 1991) was a New Zealand rugby union player. His position was Flanker. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early career

Born and raised in the city of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand, Lentjes was educated at St Bede's College in his hometown where he won a Crusaders secondary schools title in 2008. After finishing school, he made his way through the Canterbury system, becoming a member of their wider training group in 2013 as well as playing for the Crusaders development team. He played club rugby in Canterbury with the university club, however due to a lack of opportunities to make the star studded Canterbury ITM Cup side, he headed south to Dunedin and began playing club rugby for Taieri. He holds a university degree in geology and geography and worked as a lab technician for Fulton Hogan prior to his rugby career. [2] [4]

Senior career

His move to Dunedin quickly paid off and after one season in club rugby, he made the Otago squad for the 2014 ITM Cup and went on to play eight games in his debut season, scoring one try. Injuries restricted him to just 6 appearances in 2015, but in that time he managed to score 5 tries which helped his side reach the Championship semi finals before they were well beaten by Wellington. He was back to full fitness in 2016, featuring in 10 out of 12 matches for Otago during a season which saw them finish top of the championship standings - reaching the final before being defeated at home by North Harbour. [1] In Round 8 of the 2021 Bunnings NPC Lentjes played his 50th game for Otago against Canterbury at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Otago winning in a thriller 22–20.

Super Rugby

Following a string of injuries, Lentjes was called into the Highlanders squad midway through the 2015 Super Rugby season, making his debut in a 39–21 victory over the Stormers on March 28. He remained with the squad for the rest of the season and played in both the semi-final win over the Waratahs and the 21–14 victory over the Hurricanes in the final as the Highlanders won their first Super Rugby title.

He was named in the Highlanders squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season, however the form of fellow loose forwards Shane Christie, Gareth Evans and Dan Pryor meant he only made 4 appearances during the season as the Highlanders went down to the Lions in Johannesburg in the semifinals. [5] He was a consistent performer for the side during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons and was rewarded in 2020 - being named as the Highlanders captain, however his season was cut short in only his fourth game as he suffered a horrific ankle injury ruling him out for the rest of the year. [6]

Related Research Articles

Tavake Lecanus Liukanasi Manu is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played in the number 8 and occasionally flanker position for Mitre 10 Cup side, Otago. Manu also represented Tonga at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris King (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Christopher King is a New Zealand rugby union player

Liam James Coltman is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Lyon in Frances's domestic competition Top 14.

Luke Charles Whitelock is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loose forward for Section Paloise (Pau) in France's Top 14 rugby competition.

Sa Jordan Taufua is a professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Top 14 club Lyon. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level for which he qualifies on ancestry grounds.

Shane Christie is a New Zealand rugby union player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayden Parker</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Hayden John Parker is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for the Japanese based HITO-Communications Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Otago in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Franklin (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Tom Franklin is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Western Force in Super Rugby.

Gareth Evans is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played as a loose forward for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition, and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Millar (rugby union)</span> Professional rugby union player

Craig William Millar is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights. Born in New Zealand, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

Daniel Lienert-Brown is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loosehead prop for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

Aki Seiuli is a New Zealand born rugby union player of Samoan heritage who currently plays as a prop for Dragons and the Samoan national side. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors; and the New Zealand sides Otago - in domestic Mitre 10 Cup - and the Highlanders - in the international Super Rugby competition.

Rob Thompson is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays centre for Manawatu in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

Siate Tokolahi is a Tongan rugby union player who played as a prop for Canterbury and Southland in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs and Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

Alexander Nigel Ainley is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a lock for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. He now works as a builder in the city of Nelson, New Zealand. And has appeared in a Scott Brown Carpentry video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Renton</span> Rugby player

Josh Renton is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Valorugby Emilia in Italian Top10.

Jackson Nikora Hemopo is a New Zealand All Black and rugby union player who played as a lock or loose forward for Manawatu in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

Kayne Hammington is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Otago in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

Matt Faddes is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a centre, wing or fullback for Otago.

Sio Tomkinson is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a centre for the Western Force in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. He has previously played for the Dragons RFC in the United Rugby Championship and for the Highlanders.

References

  1. 1 2 "James Lentjes itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 "James Lentjes Highlanders Player Profile". Highlanders Rugby. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "James Lentjes set to battle old Canterbury pals". Rugby Heaven. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Rare start for patient Highlanders flanker James Lentjes against Jaguares". Rugby Heaven. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Super Rugby: Highlanders skipper James Lentjes requires surgery, done for season". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.