Jonathan Kpoku

Last updated

Jonathan Kpoku
Date of birth (1999-06-22) 22 June 1999 (age 24) [1]
Height2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) [2]
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
Notable relative(s) Joel Kpoku
Junior Kpoku
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018-2021 Saracens ()
2018-2020Apmthill (loan) ()
2021-2022 Coventry RFC ()
2022- CS Bourgoin-Jallieu ()
Correct as of 16 March 2024

Jonathan Kpoku (born 22 June 1999) is an English rugby union player who plays as a lock forward for CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.

Contents

Career

Kpoku initially played Rugby League for the London Skolars prior to joining the Saracens academy, where he played alongside his twin brother Joel Kpoku. He made his senior debut for Saracens during the 2018-19 season in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Worcester Warriors. [3]

He left Saracens to play on loan for Ampthill for whom he helped gain promotion to the Rugby Championship in 2019, before returning to them on loan the following season. He later signed permanently for Coventry RFC. [4] [5]

He signed for CS Bourgoin-Jallieu in June 2022. [6] [7]

International career

He played for the England national under-20 rugby union team in the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [3]

Personal life

His parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the older brother of rugby player Junior Kpoku and twin brother of rugby player Joel Kpoku. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CS Bourgoin-Jallieu</span> French rugby union club, based in Bourgoin-Jallieu

CS Bourgoin-Jallieu is a French rugby union club competing in the third level of the French league system, Nationale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourgoin-Jallieu</span> Commune in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Bourgoin-Jallieu is a commune in the Isère department in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in France. The city had 28,834 inhabitants in 2019 and lies 35 kilometres east-southeast of Lyon. It was formed by the merger of the former communes Bourgoin and Jallieu in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Fitzpatrick</span> Ireland international rugby union player

Justin Michael Fitzpatrick is an Irish former rugby union player who most recently was head coach of the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for London Irish, Castres Olympique, Dungannon RFC & Ulster. He had also held several other coaching positions, including head coach of Dungannon RFC and the Seattle Saracens, and assistant coach of the United States national rugby union team.

Norman Rangi Berryman was a New Zealand rugby union player who played as a winger and centre. He played one Test for the All Blacks, and represented Northland, the Crusaders and the Chiefs in New Zealand. In France, he played for Castres Olympique and CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.

Rhys Oakley is a former professional rugby union footballer who played as a number eight. Oakley began his professional career with Bristol Rugby, before moving to the Newport Gwent Dragons, Leeds Tykes, Northampton Saints, and CS Bourgoin-Jallieu. During the final years of his career, Oakley spent time as a player-coach for Plymouth Albion R.F.C. and Hartpury University R.F.C. Oakley is a Wales international and represented Wales Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Senio</span> Rugby player

John Senio is a Samoan rugby union footballer. He last played for French club FC Grenoble in the Pro D2. Prior to signing with Grenoble he played for Bourgoin ASM Clermont Auvergne, Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic League and the New Zealand franchise the Blues in the Super 14. He has also played for the Samoan national team, and was a member of their 2003 Rugby World Cup squad. His brothers Kevin Senio and Dimitri Senio are also professional rugby players. He was a CS Bourgoin-Jallieu rugby player for the 2009/2010 season.

Julien Frier is a French rugby union player and currently the captain of the Top 14 team CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.

Luke Baldwin is a retired rugby union player born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England. He most recently played for Dragons in the Pro14 on loan from Aviva Premiership side, Worcester Warriors as a scrum-half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanro Liebenberg</span> Rugby player

Hanro Liebenberg is a South African rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. He previously played for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. His regular playing position is number eight and flanker.

Nicholas Akamonye Isiekwe is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Saracens and the England national team.

Tom Griffiths is an English rugby union player who represents Welsh side Dragons, in the Pro14.

Benjamin Arthur Earl is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Saracens and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Morris (rugby union)</span> English rugby union player

Aaron James Morris is an English former rugby union player. A wing or fullback, he won the Premiership with Harlequins and represented England at youth level.

Matthew Abramo Gallagher is an English rugby union player for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership. His primary position is fullback, though can also play on either wing. Gallagher's father is John Gallagher, who won the 1987 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand.

Joel Awanka S. Kpoku is an English-born Congolese rugby union lock for Lyon in the French Top 14

Sean Reffell is an English rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship side Ulster.

Oliver Stonham is an English professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby side Saracens.

Tadgh McElroy is an Irish rugby union player. As of November 2023, he was playing with Connacht Rugby. His preferred position is hooker.

Nathan Michelow is an English rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Ampthill on loan from Saracens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Kpoku</span> English rugby union player (born 2004)

Junior Kpoku is an English rugby union player who plays for Racing 92 and the England national under-20 rugby union team.

References

  1. "J.Kpoku". itsrugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. "J.Kpoku". All.Rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Ultimate Rugby profile: Jonathan Kpoku". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. Heagney, Liam (17 December 2022). "'I don't speak to anyone at Saracens… they didn't make the effort'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  5. "Young Guns: Saracens second row Jonathan Kpoku". The rugby paper. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  6. "CSBJ- Jonathan Kpoku, frère jumeau de Joel Kpoku (LOU), débarque à Bourgoin". Le Dauphine. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  7. Jaycock, Ben (26 June 2022). "Kpoku hopes French move will inspire him". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. Morgan, Charlie (6 March 2024). "Youngest Kpoku brother plays for England U20s – but may have been lost to France already". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  9. "'I was kind of lost in the rugby world, my name had gone quiet'". www.rugbypass.com. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.