Jade Konkel

Jade Konkel
Full nameJade Elizabeth Konkel
Date of birth (1993-12-09) 9 December 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthInverness, Scotland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight83 kg (13 st 1 lb; 183 lb)
UniversityGlasgow Caledonian University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8
Current team Harlequins Women
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
-2017 Hillhead Jordanhill RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–18
2018–present		 Lille
Harlequins Women		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–present Scotland 60 50
Correct as of 25 Oct 2022

Jade Elizabeth Konkel is a professional rugby union player who plays her club rugby with Harlequins Women in the PWR. Konkel is the Captain of Harlequins Women. She is a Number 8 and has represented the Scottish national team since 2013.

Club career

After moving to Glasgow to attend university, Konkel played for Hillhead Jordanhill Rugby Football Club. It was while at the club that she made history by becoming Scottish Rugby's first full-time female player in the summer of 2016.[1]

Konkel joined French club Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois (LMRCV) ahead of season 2017/18 while still remaining a Stage 3 supported player in Scottish Rugby's Academy.[2]

She left Lille for London-based side Harlequins ahead of the 2018/19[3][4] season and plays in the Premiership Women’s Rugby league. Konkel has been named Captain ahead of the 23/24 season. Konkel named Harlequins Captain

International career

Konkel made her Scotland Women debut against England on 2 February 2013 when she came on as a replacement for Mary Lafaiki in the first game of the 2013 Women's Six Nations at Molesey Road, Surrey.[5]

Her first try for her country came in 2015 when she scored against Italy in the Six Nations clash at Broadwood Stadium.[6]

Konkel was included in Scotlands squad for the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand (which took place in 2022 due to COVID), She started all three games

Playing style

Konkel is known as a hard carrying, physical player. In the opening rounds of the 2020 Six Nations, she carried a combined 55 times (away to Ireland and versus England at BT Murrayfield) which was over 20 carries more than any other player over the first two rounds of the tournament[7]

Education

Konkel graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a DipHE in Social Work in 2017[8]

Other sports

Konkel played basketball for Highland Bears and had two seasons in the national league.

She represented Scotland in athletics for the army cadets and won two gold medals in 2008/09 for shot putt and discus respectively. In 2008, Konkel gained her black belt in the martial art Goshin-Ryu Kempo.

Personal life

Born in Inverness, and brought up on the Black Isle, Konkel grew up in a rugby family. Her family played with Inverness Craig Dunain Rugby Football Club.

Konkel is a vegan.[9] She is also a qualified personal trainer, rugby coach, and gym instructor.[10][better source needed]

Away from Rugby, Konkel is a Fire Fighter in London

References

  1. ^ "Jade Konkel: First Scottish woman signs pro rugby deal". BBC Sport. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  2. ^ "Scotland's Konkel set for French Top 8". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ Barnes, David (2019-08-07). "Konkel excited by Harlequins move". The Offside Line. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  4. ^ Cary, Tom (2019-04-26). "Harlequins Ladies No 8 Jade Konkel making capital out of her big move south". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  5. ^ "England Women 76-0 Scotland Women". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "Scotland women 8-31 Italy women". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ OptaJonny (2020-02-12). "55 – @Scotlandteam's @JadeKonkel has made 55 carries after just two rounds of the @Womens6Nations this year, 20 more than any other player in the tournament. Persistent.pic.twitter.com/h8w4TU62Xn". @OptaJonny. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  8. ^ "Jade Konkel | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK". www.gcu.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03.
  9. ^ "Scotland No 8 Jade Konkel's remarkable rugby journey". 25 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Jade Konkel". Apex Training & Performance. Retrieved 2020-03-02.[permanent dead link‍]