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Jermaine Ainsley
Date of birth	8 August 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Cromwell, New Zealand
Height	181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	125 kg (19 st 10 lb; 276 lb)
School	Otago Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Prop
Current team	Otago, Highlanders
Senior career
Years	Team
2015–2017	Perth Spirit
2016–2017	Force
2018–2020	Rebels
2018–2019	Melbourne Rising
2021–	Otago
2022–	Highlanders
	Correct as of 16 July 2022
International career
Years	Team
2018	Australia
2022	Māori All Blacks
	Correct as of 16 July 2022

Jermaine Ainsley (born 8 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who currently plays as a prop for the Otago Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition after previously being with the Rebels.^[1]^[2]

Early life

Born and raised in New Zealand, Ainsley moved to Western Australia in search of his big break in the game. He represented Western Australia at under-20 level before turning out for the Force's A team. He played an important role in the Nedlands club's victory in the Pindan RugbyWA Premier Grade (1st Grade) competition in 2015.

Rugby career

Ainsley was selected by the Perth Spirit for the 2015 National Rugby Championship season. He played in nine matches in total for the Spirit in 2015, starting two of them and this secured him a spot in the Western Force's wider training group ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Injuries to props Tetera Faulkner and Francois van Wyk gave Ainsley the opportunity to earn valuable game time during his debut campaign. He earned his first cap in Round 1 against the Melbourne Rebels and played in nine of the Force's fifteen matches that year, one of which was as a starter. This form earned him a new 2-year contract to keep him at the Force until 2018.^[5]

After the Force were excluded from the Super rugby competition, Ainsley moved to join the Melbourne Rebels in 2018 and, later that year, signed an extended deal with the club to stay in Melbourne through to 2020.^[1]

Super Rugby statistics

As of 12 September 2020^[6]

Season	Team	Games	Start	Sub	Mins
2016	Force	9	1	8	155
2017	Force	8	7	1	406
2018	Rebels	15	9	6	664
2019	Rebels	15	8	7	609
2020	Rebels	5	4	1	265
2020 AU	Rebels	8	5	3	429
Total		60	34	26	2537

Personal life

Ainsley is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Te Rarawa and Te Arawa descent).^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "Wallabies and Rebels lock in promising prop". rugby.com.au. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Jermaine Ainsley looks to continue rapid rise in 2016". Western Force. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
^ "Jermaine Ainsley Player Profile". Rugby WA. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
^ "Jermaine Ainsley Rugby Australia Player Profile". Rugby Australia. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
^ "Cowan and Ainsley ink new deals to 2018". Western Force. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "Jermaine Ainsley itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
^ "Player Profile: Jermaine Ainsley". All Blacks (Official Site). Retrieved 17 March 2024.