Will Jordan (rugby union)

Will Jordan
Jordan representing New Zealand during the 2024 Rugby Championship
Full nameWilliam Thomas Jordan
Date of birth (1998-02-24) 24 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birthChristchurch, New Zealand
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight94 kg (207 lb; 14 st 11 lb)
SchoolChristchurch Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing
Current team Tasman, Crusaders
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Tasman 34 (110)
2019– Crusaders 52 (190)
Correct as of 24 November 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 New Zealand U20 7 (45)
2020– New Zealand 41 (190)
Correct as of 24 November 2024
Medal record
Men's rugby union
Representing  New Zealand
Rugby World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2023 France Team competition

William Thomas Jordan (born 24 February 1998) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a Fullback for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Tasman in the Bunnings NPC. [1][2][3][4]

Early life

Jordan attended Fendalton Open Air School, then Cobham Intermediate, then Christchurch Boys' High School. He played as fullback for the top side, and led the UC Championship in tries scored in 2015.[5]

Club career

After a successful school career, Jordan made his debut for the Tasman Mako in Round 1 of the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup against Canterbury at Trafalgar Park in Nelson. He scored 6 tries during the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup, and was second in the tournament for clean breaks. Jordan made his debut for Super Rugby team the Crusaders in 2019 after missing the 2018 season with injury. Jordan was part of the Mako side which won the Mitre 10 Cup for the first time in 2019. He was named in the South Island squad for the North vs South rugby union match in 2020, starting in the number 14 jersey in a 38–35 win for the South.

Jordan played every minute and scored a try in the final of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season as the Crusaders won their fifth title in a row with a 24–13 win over the Chiefs. He had another outstanding 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season as the Crusaders made it six in a row with a 7–21 win over the Blues in the final.

International career

After an outstanding Super Rugby Aotearoa season and scoring 2 brilliant tries in the North v South game he was named in the All Blacks squad for the 2020 Rugby Championship.[6]

Jordan made his All Blacks debut against Australia on 7 November 2020 in a 24–22 loss for New Zealand, becoming All Black number 1191. Jordan returned from injury for the final test of 2020 and scored 2 tries in a 38–0 win over Argentina. Jordan was again named in the All Blacks squad to play Tonga and Fiji in the July 2021 Steinlager Series.[7] In the first game of the 2021 season for the All Blacks Jordan scored 5 tries against Tonga at Mount Smart Stadium in a 102–0 win for the side. He scored another 3 tries later in the year against the United States of America in a 14–104 win for the All Blacks.

At the time of writing, 25th Nov 2024, he has the second highest strike rate of any international player, with 38 tries in 41 matches.

Jordan received the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award in 2021.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Will Jordan". mako.nz. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Will Jordan". crusaders.co.nz. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Will Thomas Jordan". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Will Jordan player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Christchurch fullback Will Jordan scores four tries and gets Tasman Makos deal". Stuff. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Will Jordan". allblacks.com. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  7. ^ "All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series". allblacks.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Rugby: All Blacks wing Will Jordan scoops World Rugby award, history made for top coach". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2021.