Joe Ansbro
| Full name | Joe Ansbro | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 October 1985 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 15 st 9 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||||
| School | Stonyhurst College | ||||||||||||
| University | Cambridge University | ||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Joe Ansbro (Born Glasgow, 29 October 1985) is a Scottish international professional rugby union player. He is the first black player to represent Scotland at test level in history.[1] His favoured position is centre. He is currently signed for London Irish. [2]
Early years
Ansbro was born in Glasgow and raised near Gatehouse of Fleet in Galloway, South West Scotland.[1] He was educated at Gatehouse Primary School and played youth rugby with Stewartry, the Castle Douglas club. He was also educated at Stonyhurst College near Clitheroe in Lancashire, North West England, before embarking on study of a Natural Sciences degree at Robinson College,[3] Cambridge University.[4]
Northampton
Ansbro joined the Northampton Academy in 2006, during this time he was part of the Cambridge University side that took part in The Varsity Match, producing some quality displays for the University. Northampton Saints took notice of this and he became a regular in the number 13 shirt during their season in National Division One, he also scored in the EDF Energy Trophy final.
London Irish
Ansbro joined London Irish in 2011 on a three year deal [5]. The Scotland centre was one of numerous international players to join the club in 2011. London Irish head coach Toby Booth said: "He's quick, powerful with a great future ahead and will fit in nicely." Ansbro commented that "there are some great players who have committed their long term futures to the club and that speaks volumes for what is happening there.” [6]
Scotland
The Glasgow-born centre opted for the country of his birth when he accepted selection in the Scotland A team for the IRB Nations Cup tournament in Romania in June 2009. Scotland A won that tournament, with Ansbro making his debut as outside centre in the win against Uruguay.[4] Ansbro was called up for his senior Scotland debut on 19 November 2010 to face South Africa the day after at Murrayfield. He became first black player to represent Scotland at test level.[1] The result was a 21–17 victory over reigning world champions South Africa.[7]
Ansbro played again the week after in the 19–16 win against Samoa at Pittodrie in Aberdeen.[8]
Ansbro made his first appearance in the 6 nations in Scotland's opening match of the 2011 tournament against France in Paris. Ansbro and the rest of the Scotland team put in an impressive performance against an clinical French side despite eventually losing the match 34-21.
References
- ^ a b c Late Scotland call-up for Joe Ansbro
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/london_irish/9386306.stm
- ^ http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/player-profile-joe-ansbro
- ^ a b "Joe Ansbro" on the Scotland Rugby Team website
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/london_irish/9386306.stm
- ^ http://www.london-irish.com/news/Irish50758.ink
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9207058.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9230505.stm