Pour voir la prochaine recrue du LOU, ne manquez pas le Super Rugby
Le pilier des Maori All Blacks et des All Blacks XV, Jermaine Ainsley (1,81m, 125 kg), quittera la Nouvelle-Zélande à la fin de la saison du Super Rugby Pacific après avoir signé un contrat pour deux saisons avec le LOU Rugby. Il sera amené à remplacer Demba Bamba (en partance pour le Racing 92) et espère trouver un club qui se sera maintenu en Top 14 l’année prochaine malgré sa 12e place actuelle (à deux points du relégable).
Âgé de 28 ans, Ainsley a débuté 13 des 14 matchs des Highlanders (équipe avec laquelle il joue depuis 2021) la saison dernière au poste de pilier droit. Le percutant numéro 3 n’a pris place sur le banc que lors d’un match à l’extérieur contre les Brumbies.
Trois sélections avec l’Australie
Après une saison impressionnante au niveau du Super Rugby, Ainsley a été appelé à jouer avec les All Blacks XV et a débuté les matchs contre un XV japonais et les Brave Blossoms en juillet 2023.
Point culminant de sa saison, il a également fait partie du groupe de préparation des All Blacks pour la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, mais sans être retenu dans la sélection finale. Il compte trois sélections internationales… avec l’Australie de Michael Cheika (à chaque fois comme remplaçant) qui remonte à 2018 (Rugby Championship et tests d’automne en Europe).
Mais à la fin de la saison 2024, le Néo-Zélandais – qui a également joué pour la Western Force et les Melbourne Rebels – partira à l’étranger pour saisir une opportunité avec Lyon, soufflée, selon Le Progrès, par Kenny Lynn, ancien entraîneur du LOU et actuel responsable de l’attaque des Highlanders.
Les Highlanders sont aussi à la peine
« À la fin de la saison 2024, je partirai en France pour rejoindre le LOU », a déclaré Ainsley dans un communiqué cette semaine.
« J’ai beaucoup apprécié mon séjour au pays au cours des trois dernières années et ça a toujours été un rêve d’enfant de jouer pour les Highlanders. »
La décision d’Ainsley de quitter les Highlanders est un coup dur pour le club de Dunedin, qui aura à cœur de redresser la barre cette saison et au-delà.
Les Highlanders ont été la seule équipe néo-zélandaise à ne pas participer aux playoffs la dernière fois, la franchise ayant été éliminée à la différence de points par les Queensland Reds.
Mais après une étonnante victoire 52-19 sur les Hurricanes à Dunedin le week-end dernier, les Highlanders d’Ainsley se sentent confiants pour la campagne à venir.
Les Highlanders entament leur saison à domicile en affrontant Moana Pasifika au Forsyth Barr Stadium de Dunedin le 24 février.
Comments on RugbyPass
Blues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
2 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
2 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
47 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to comments