Isaac Beattie Ross (born 27 October 1984) is a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player. He plays in the

lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

position for the

Austin Gilgronis The Austin Gilgronis were a professional rugby union team based in Austin, Texas, United States. The team was founded in 2017 as the Austin Elite, and competed in Major League Rugby. History On September 19, 2019, after extensive polling at th ...

Major League Rugby Major League Rugby (MLR or USMLR) is a professional rugby union competition and the top-level championship for clubs in North America. In the 2022 season it was contested by thirteen teams: twelve from the United States and one from Canada. Off ...

(MLR) competition.

Professional career

Ross is of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

descent, and played for New Zealand Māori between 2007 and 2010. He affiliates to

Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke's Bay and Wairārapa regions. The tribe is organised into six geographical and administrative di ...

. Ross followed in the footsteps of his father Jock when he pulled on an

All Black The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

jersey for the first time in 2009. In as cover for the injured

Ali Williams Alexander James "Ali" Williams (born 30 April 1981) is a New Zealand rugby union player who played at lock, spending almost all of his playing career in his homeland. At provincial level, he played mainly with Auckland, though he spent one seaso ...

, Ross impressed with an athletic performance in an otherwise sloppy loss to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

. Despite fears that Ross neglected the grittier aspects of lock play, continuing injury to Williams ensured that he began the Tri-Nations in the All Black second row. He won his fourth cap against

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

in the opening game of the series, helping his side to a 22–16 win. At domestic level Ross represented

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

, and has played for the Chiefs,

Crusaders The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...

and Highlanders at

Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...

level since his debut in 2007. Following the conclusion of the Tri Nations in 2009 Ross was omitted from the All Blacks November tour squad, being told to bulk up in order to reclaim his place. He failed to do so following the 2010 Super 14, and returned to the Canterbury ranks as the All Blacks romped away with the Tri Nations. In October 2020 Ross returned to New Zealand to play for in the

Mitre 10 Cup The mitre (Commonwealth English) (; Greek: μίτρα, "headband" or "turban") or miter (American English; see spelling differences), is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops and certain abbots in t ...

, making his debut for the Mako in Round 5 of the

2020 Mitre 10 Cup The 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season was the fifteenth season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on September 11, when North Harbour hosted Canterbury. It involved the top ...

against . The Mako went on to win their second premiership title in a row with Ross coming off the bench in a 12-13 victory over in the final.

Early life

Isaac Ross's talent was obvious from an early age and after starring in the

Timaru Boys' High School Timaru Boys' High School (also known as TBHS), established in 1880, is a single sex state (public) secondary school located in the port city of Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand. TBHS caters for years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 19 years). At th ...

top side, he played for the national secondary schools and age group sides before having the first of his 53 games for Canterbury in 2006. Ross had an exceptional rugby pedigree. His father, Jock, a stalwart of

Mid Canterbury Mid Canterbury (also spelt Mid-Canterbury and mid-Canterbury) is a traditional, semi-official subregion of New Zealand's Canterbury Region extending inland from the Pacific coast to the Southern Alps. It is one of four traditional sub-regions of C ...

, for whom he played more than 100 games, and also a lock and lineout expert, was an All Black tourist to

and

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

in 1981, while his mother,

Christine Christine may refer to: People * Christine (name), a female given name Film * ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei'' * ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name * ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...

, played for the Black Ferns.

Super Rugby

He played for the Crusaders for the first time in 2007, but in 2008, with

joining the franchise for a year to partner

Brad Thorn Bradley Carnegie Thorn (born 3 February 1975) is a rugby union coach and former rugby league and rugby union footballer. Born in New Zealand, he represented Australia in rugby league and New Zealand in rugby union in a 22-season career as a pla ...

, he went into the draft and was picked up by the Highlanders. He returned to the Crusaders in 2009, where he appeared in all 14 matches, gained him promotion to the All Blacks. In the 2010 season with the Crusaders the presence of

Thorn Thorn(s) or The Thorn(s) may refer to: Botany * Thorns, spines, and prickles, sharp structures on plants * ''Crataegus monogyna'', or common hawthorn, a plant species Comics and literature * Rose and Thorn, the two personalities of two DC Com ...

, the return of

Chris Jack Christopher Raymond Jack (born 5 September 1978) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a lock. He played for Canterbury and the Tasman Mako in the National Provincial Championship and its successor, the Air New Zealand Cup; the ...

from overseas and the rise of the young

Sam Whitelock Samuel Lawrence Whitelock (born 12 October 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a lock for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup. Whitelock has captained the Crusaders, and New Zealand in five interna ...

meant he received only five matches in the Super 15 competition. On 27 September 2010, the Chiefs announced that they signed Isaac Ross for the 2011 Super Rugby season. He played 11 games and brought his Super Rugby appearances to 43, but again without looking as if he would regain his place in the national pecking order. He then departed for a contract with the

NTT Communications Shining Arcs Urayasu D-Rocks, commonly known as the D-Rocks, or the Shining Arcs, is a rugby union team owned by NTT Communications and is part of Japan's Rugby League One competition, currently in Division 2. Given the name, the team is based in Urayasu Ci ...

of the Japanese

Top League Japan Rugby League One (formerly the Top League) is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by absorbing the ...

All Blacks

On 22 May 2009, Ross was selected for the Iveco Series 26 man

squad. He made his debut against

on 13 June, where he partnered his

teammate,

. He scored his first try against Italy in the All Blacks 27–6 win over the side on 27 June 2009.

Outside rugby

In 2010, Ross and winner of the 2009 Forestry Modern Apprentice of the Year awards, Warren Ropiha, became the faces of Jigsaw Family Services Extra Ordinary Dads campaign; celebrating fathers and the important role they play in their children's lives. They joined the 2009 representatives

Cory Jane Cory Steven Jane (born 8 February 1983) is a New Zealand international rugby union player. He first played for the All Blacks in 2008 and plays as a winger. In 2011 Jane was selected into the Tri Nations team as injury cover. A few weeks late ...

and

Mike McRoberts Mike McRoberts (born 1966) is a New Zealand television journalist and news anchor. Early life McRoberts was born in 1966 to a Ngāti Kahungunu father and pākehā mother. He attended Manning Intermediate and Hillmorton High School in Christch ...

. Jigsaw Family Services is a network of 39 organisations in New Zealand working to stop child abuse, neglect and family violence in New Zealand communities. The Extra Ordinary Dads campaign aims to spark conversations about what makes a good father as dads share stories about taking the time to play with, listen to and encourage their kids, and to create strong positive family relationships. Ross also works as a sports interviewer on The Erin Simpson Show. His favorite television programme is ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...

''.

References

External links

itsrugby.co.uk profileJigsaw extra ordinary dad interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Isaac 1984 births Living people New Zealand rugby union players Rugby union players from Ashburton, New Zealand New Zealand international rugby union players Māori All Blacks players People educated at Timaru Boys' High School Urayasu D-Rocks players Canterbury rugby union players Crusaders (rugby union) players Chiefs (rugby union) players Highlanders (rugby union) players New Zealand expatriate rugby union players Expatriate rugby union players in Japan New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Japan Rugby union locks Tasman rugby union players Austin Gilgronis players Ngāti Kahungunu people