Jason Woodward

Last updated

Jason Woodward
Full nameJason Christopher Woodward
Date of birth (1990-05-17) 17 May 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
School St. Patrick's College Silverstream
University Hartpury College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing, Centre
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2009–2016 Wellington 38 (267)
2013–2014 Rebels 26 (210)
2015–2016 Hurricanes 18 (42)
2016–2017 Bristol 17 (91)
2017–2022 Gloucester 55 (80)
2022– Sale Sharks 0 (0)
Correct as of 28 July 2020
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2010 New Zealand U20 4 (0)
Correct as of 25 May 2019

Jason Christopher Woodward (born 17 May 1990 [1] in Wellington, New Zealand) is a professional rugby union player who plays for Sale Sharks in the Premiership Rugby.

Contents

Early career

Woodward played for the Upper Hutt Premier team, [1] and was a regular in the Upper Hutt Leader. In 2010, Woodward made the New Zealand U20s [2] and represented New Zealand at the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, helping the team to win the competition undefeated.

Domestic career

Wellington

Woodward played his first provincial season with the Wellington Lions in 2011. [3] On debut he scored all of Wellington Lions' three tries to beat Taranaki 23–5 in the 2011 season's opening game. [4]

Rebels

Woodward joined the Melbourne Rebels following a strong 2012 ITM Cup campaign with the Wellington Lions. However an injury sustained pre-season delayed his debut until round six of the 2013 Super Rugby season. Woodward made his debut in an unfortunate 64–7 belting from the Sharks in Durban. [5] He started at outside centre. [6] Back in Australia for round eight in Perth, Woodward started on the right wing against the Western Force. He scored his first and second tries in Super Rugby and helped the Rebels win 30–23. [7]

Hurricanes

June 2014, Woodward joined the Hurricanes after signing a two-year deal to return to his home franchise. The then 24-year-old returned to Wellington at the end of the 2014 Super Rugby competition ending a two-season stint with the Melbourne Rebels. [8] Woodward's Super Rugby season would be soon over after he broke his ankle playing club rugby in Wellington. He suffered the injury when he was caught between two defenders while playing at centre for club side Upper Hutt against Oriental Rongotai at the Polo Ground in Miramar. Woodward had been used only sparingly by the Hurricanes throughout the 2015 season with just three appearances, but had been in good form since starting the opening two matches in South Africa against the Lions and Bulls. With Nehe Milner-Skudder and James Marshall also used at fullback, Woodward's only other appearance had been against his former team the Rebels at Westpac Stadium in round seven. [9]

Bristol Rugby

On 12 September 2016 it was announced that Woodward had signed a two-year deal with Aviva Premiership club Bristol Rugby. [10]

Gloucester Rugby

Following Bristol Rugby's relegation at the end of the 2016-17 Aviva Premiership season it was reported Woodward had a relegation clause in his contract, which was reported to be activated by Gloucester Rugby, where Woodward would link up with some of his former Hartpury College friends. [11]

Sale Sharks

After his release from Gloucester, Woodward signed for Premiership rivals Sale Sharks for the 2022–23 season. [12]

International career

In May 2017 he was invited to a training camp with the senior England squad by Eddie Jones. [13]

Personal life

Woodward's father Glen was a loose forward for Hutt Old Boys in the 1980s before arthritis cut his career short, while brothers Aidan and Jared are both making names for themselves with the Upper Hutt Rams. He spent two years in England on exchange at Hartpury College, however he left early to further his rugby career in New Zealand and therefore has no formal qualifications, unlike his sister who is a former New Zealand Fencing Champion and is University educated. [14] He also studied to become a commercial helicopter pilot. In his spare time he enjoys driving monster trucks [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney So'oialo</span> Rugby player

Rodney So'oialo is a New Zealand rugby union player who recently played in Japan for the Honda Heat. He is now the director of rugby and head coach at Trinity College Kandy, Sri Lanka. Previously, he had been a stalwart for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition, making 101 appearances for the franchise. He also made 62 test appearances for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2009. His usual position is at number eight.

Jason Edward Spice is a New Zealand international rugby union player and first-class cricketer. His position of choice is as a scrum-half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sika Manu</span> NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Viliami Sikalamu "Sika" Manu is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for Tonga and New Zealand at international level, being a member of the World Cup winning Kiwi team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final.

Chris Boyd is a New Zealand rugby union coach, who is currently the Director of Rugby at English Premiership team Northampton Saints. He has previously coached at Wellington, the New Zealand under-20 National Team, and Super Rugby franchise the Hurricanes.

Jeremy Thrush is a rugby union lock who plays for the Western Force. He previously played for Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup. He represented the Junior All Blacks, New Zealand Under-19 and New Zealand Secondary Schools teams. He was a part of the victorious 2004 Under-19 World Championship team and was named the 2004 IRB World U19 Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Waldrom</span> Rugby player

Thomas Waldrom is a former rugby union player who played for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership and represented England from 2012 to 2014. Born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, he qualified for England through his grandmother, winning four caps.

Michael Joseph Deans Hobbs is a retired professional rugby union player. Hobbs previously played for the Blues and Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition. He also played for the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup. His playing positions are First Five-Eighth and Inside Centre.

Motu Matu'u is a rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for London Irish in Premiership Rugby. He previously played for Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He attended Rongotai College in Wellington, which was also attended by Ma'a Nonu. He is 184 cm tall and weighs 108 kg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nic Stirzaker</span> Australia international rugby union player

Nic Stirzaker is a former Australian rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is scrum-half and most recently played for the Montauban in the Pro D2. Prior to that he represented the Rebels in Super Rugby and Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship and Bristol Bears in Premiership Rugby.

Bradley David Fenner Shields is a rugby union player for Wellington in the Bunnings NPC and Hurricanes. He played 8 times for the England national rugby union team in 2018 and 2019. In November 2017 he signed with Wasps before returning to New Zealand in 2023.

Dave Rennie is a New Zealand and Cook Islands professional rugby union coach and former player. He will take over the Kobe Steelers as head coach for the 2023-24 season. He previously was the head coach of the Australia national rugby union team from 2020 to 2023, having previously coached New Zealand sides the Chiefs, Manawatu, Wellington, the New Zealand U20, as well as in Scotland, with Glasgow Warriors from 2017 to 2020. Rennie's playing position was Centre. In November 2019 he was named the head coach of the Australian national team until being sacked in January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Fairbrother</span> Rugby player

Tim Fairbrother, is a rugby union player, his position is tighthead prop.

Matthew Phillip Proctor is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a utility back for the Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

Jonny Bentley is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at fly-half for Chinnor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaea Fifita</span> Tongan rugby player (born 1992)

Vaea Tangitau Lapota Fifita is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Tonga national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mat Protheroe</span> Welsh rugby union player

Mathew John Protheroe is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or fullback for Ospreys.

Cameron Orr is an Australian rugby union player who competes for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby. His usual position is prop.

Peter Ionatana Jack Umaga-Jensen is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an center or outside back for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Sosefo Losino 'Apikotoa is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Anthem Rugby Carolina in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but represents Tonga internationally, for which he is eligible due to his Tongan descent.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wellington Club Rugby: Clubs, Teams & People".
  2. "International Rugby Board". irb.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010.
  3. "Players | Vodafone Wellington Lions". Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  4. Napier, Liam (16 July 2011). "Wellington sink Taranaki in season opener". Rugby Heaven. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  5. "Rebels suffer 64–7 loss to the Sharks in Durban" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks 64–7 Rebels". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  7. "Jason Woodward signs for the Hurricanes". Stuff. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  8. "Hurricanes fullback Jason Woodward's Super Rugby season over after breaking ankle in club match". Stuff. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  9. "Jason Woodward: Bristol sign Hurricanes back on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  10. "Gloucester Rugby set to sign full-back from Bristol". Glosliveonline. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  11. "Premiership: Sale Sharks snap up former Gloucester back Jason Woodward on one-year contract". Planet Rugby. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  12. "England rugby: Willi Heinz and Jason Woodward selected for training camp". BBC Sport. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  13. "Jason Woodward: Melbourne Rebel with a cause". Stuff. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  14. "Rugby: Woodward's not your average rugby player". The New Zealand Herald. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2016.