Jerome Kaino

Jerome Kaino
Birth name	Jerome Kaino
Date of birth	6 April 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	113 kg (249 lb)
School	Papakura High School ; St Kentigern College
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Flanker, No. 8
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
	Auckland University
	Correct as of 1 Sep 2006
Senior career
Years	Team
2012–14	Toyota Verblitz
	Correct as of 4 November 2013
Provincial / State sides
Years	Team
2004–11 ; 2014–	Auckland ; North Harbour
Super Rugby
Years	Team
2004–12, 2014–	Blues
International career
Years	Team
2006–11	New Zealand
	Correct as of 24 November 2011

Jerome Kaino (born 6 April 1983) is a American Samoan-born New Zealand professional Rugby union player. He played for the Blues in Super Rugby and All Blacks internationally. In 2004, he was named IRB International Under-21 player of the year. In 2011, he played in every match of the Rugby World Cup as part of the All Blacks, being part of the first All Blacks team to win the Rugby World Cup since 1987. Kaino is also the second American national (through birth) to play for the All Blacks (the first being Frank Solomon).

Early life

Kaino was born in Faga'alu on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa. He is the third of six children. At the age of 4, he and his family moved from their home village of Leone to Auckland, New Zealand in 1987. If Kaino had not come to New Zealand following the lead of his uncle, his family reckons he would have ended up in the United States Army. After settling in Auckland, he played junior rugby league for the Papakura Sea Eagles before switching to rugby union in secondary school at Papakura High School and Saint Kentigern College.^[1]

Auckland and Blues career

Kaino made his Auckland debut in 2004 and his Blues debut in 2006. In 2012 it was announced that Kaino would be leaving the Blues for Japanese club Toyota Verblitz on a two-year deal.^[3]

On 4 October 2013, Kaino announced he had resigned with New Zealand Rugby Union, North Harbour and Auckland Blues on a two year contract.^[4] He was expected to return to New Zealand in February^[5] in time for the beginning of the 2014 Super Rugby season.

International career

His first All Blacks game was the uncapped appearance against the Barbarians at Twickenham where he was named man-of-the-match. ^{[citation needed]} He played his first two tests against Ireland in 2006.^[6]

Kaino is known to be a versatile player. In the Bledisloe Cup game on 31 July 2010, Kaino played lock for the All Blacks after Tom Donnelly was replaced. Victor Vito came on at blindeside flanker, while Kaino moved into lock.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011 Kaino played an important role in the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup. He was named in the starting XV for every game. He played every minute of every game except for the final few seconds in the semi-final against Australia.^[7] He scored four tries in the World Cup.

Career Notes

Not originally in the Blues 2006 Super 14 squad, he was called back after 2005 All Black Angus Macdonald succumbed to an ACL injury. ^{[citation needed]}
Started the first two matches of the Junior All Blacks tour to Australia in 2005 before returning to play for Auckland against the British & Irish Lions.
Scored a try in his All Blacks debut against the Barbarians at Twickenham in December 2004.
Voted IRB International U21 Player of the Year in 2004 and was Player of the Tournament at the 2004 IRB Under 21 World Championship.
NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year 2004
Scored his first world cup try at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in the opening match against Tonga. He then went on to score three more tries bringing his tally to four. Currently he has scored the most tries of any forward.
Nominee for IRB International Player of the Year 2011. Won by Thierry Dusautoir.

References

^ ^a ^b Perrott, Alan (11 August 2011). "Jerome Kaino: The enforcer". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
^ Gray, Wynne (11 July 2005). "Cartoons on hold for Afoa". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
^ Shannon, Kris (24 March 2012). "Kaino gone – for now". New Zealand Herald.
^ "Kaino returns to Blues". New Zealand Herald. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
^ McKendry, Patrick (21 January 2014). "Kaino – I want to be a starting All Black again". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
^ "Kaino handed chance by All Blacks". BBC News. 13 June 2006.
^ Rugby News Service (24 October 2011). "Top five players of RWC 2011" (Press release). International Rugby Board. Retrieved 25 April 2012.

External links

Awards
Preceded by Ben Atiga	IRB International U21 Player of the Year 2004	Succeeded by Tatafu Polota-Nau

Template:2014 Blues Super Rugby squad

Template:Persondata

[nzh-1] Perrott, Alan (11 August 2011). "Jerome Kaino: The enforcer". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2014.

[2] Gray, Wynne (11 July 2005). "Cartoons on hold for Afoa". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2014.

[3] Shannon, Kris (24 March 2012). "Kaino gone – for now". New Zealand Herald.

[Kaino_returns_to_Blues-4] "Kaino returns to Blues". New Zealand Herald. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.

[5] McKendry, Patrick (21 January 2014). "Kaino – I want to be a starting All Black again". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2014.

[6] "Kaino handed chance by All Blacks". BBC News. 13 June 2006.

[rwc-top-5-7] Rugby News Service (24 October 2011). "Top five players of RWC 2011" (Press release). International Rugby Board. Retrieved 25 April 2012.

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