Jason Emery (born 21 September 1993) is a New Zealand
rugby union player who represents the in
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 ...
, as well as for
Manawatu in the
Mitre 10 Cup. He also plays for
Rugby New York
Rugby New York, formerly known as Rugby United New York and now officially nicknamed the Ironworkers, are a professional rugby union team based in New York City that is a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The team played an exhibition season in ...
in
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) in the United States. His position of choice is
centre.
Early life and schooling
Born in
Tauranga, Emery moved south to
Wellington before ending up in
Palmerston North at the age of 13. While attending
Palmerston North Boys' High School, Emery made the school's 1st XV as a centre as a year 11 student in 2009, competing in the
Super 8 schools Super 8 is the association of boys' schools in the central North Island of New Zealand. The association is mainly a sporting one, which was established in 1997 in response to the lack of competition that the schools faced in their home regions. The ...
competition.
In 2010, Emery made the
New Zealand Schools team. He scored a try in the annual trans-Tasman 'Test' against the
Australia Schoolboys
The Australian Schoolboys refer to junior teams that represent Australia in various sports. The name is mainly used in rugby league, rugby union and baseball. Other popular team sports in Australia such as cricket, basketball, association footbal ...
, played in
Littlebourne
Littlebourne is a village and civil parish east of Canterbury in Kent, South East England.
History
The significant Howletts Anglo-Saxon cemetery is in the parish. It is regarded as " Jutish"; finds are in the British Museum and elsewhere, and i ...
. The match was won by New Zealand 30–21. The team had previously played Tonga Schools and Otago U19 two weeks earlier.
The following year Emery, while in his final year at school, played for New Zealand schools against Australia, at
Knox Grammar School in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
. New Zealand lost 19–26, with fellow midfielder, who was also from PNBHS,
Ngani Laumape scoring New Zealand's only try.
Playing career
While still at school, Emery was signed by the
Manawatu Rugby Union
The Manawatu Rugby Football Union (MRU) is the governing body of the sport of rugby union in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.
Founded in 1886, Manawatu is one of New Zealand's oldest rugby unions. In 1892, the MRU, amongst other ...
, but didn't make his provincial debut until 24 August 2012. Before that, he went to
South Africa to compete at the Junior Rugby World Cup with the New Zealand U20 team, coming in 2nd place. He made his debut at the age of 18, against the
Wellington Lions in the
National Provincial Championship. He came on as a substitute in the final 30 minutes. He went on to help create the only try by Manawatu in the 11–30 loss at
Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North. He scored his first try for his province in a 33–20 win over
Northland in a Championship match. It was also Emery's first start for his province.
In October 2012 Emery signed a three-year contract with the , starting in the
2013 Super Rugby season
The 2013 Super Rugby season was the third season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition involving teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The tournament was won by the Chiefs, who defeated the Canberra-based Brumb ...
.
He made his debut in the 19–23 loss to the
Hurricanes at
Forsyth Barr Stadium in
Dunedin on 15 March 2013.
On 22 April 2016, in his first start during the
2016 Super Rugby season
The 2016 Super Rugby season was the 21st season of Super Rugby and the first season featuring an expanded 18-team format. It was also the first season that teams outside Australia, New Zealand and South Africa featured, with the Jaguares from Ar ...
for the Highlanders against the
Sharks, within the first 15 minutes Emery was involved in a mid-air collision with opposing fullback
Willie le Roux
Willem Jacobus le Roux (born 18 August 1989) is a South African rugby union player. He is a versatile back-line player who generally plays as a fullback or wing, though earlier in his career he played mostly as a fly-half. He plays for the Sou ...
. This resulted in le Roux falling dangerously on his back. Because of his actions Emery was red carded and banned from playing for 4 weeks.
References
External links
Highlanders profile* http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/4178041/Emery-boasts-legends-genes
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/14388/New-Zealand-Schools-team-to-play-Tonga-Schools
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/14421/NZ-Schools-team-to-play-Otago-Under-19
* http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/4178041/Emery-boasts-legends-genes
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/14459/NZ-Schools-team-to-play-Australia-Schools
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/14471/NZ-Schools-beat-Australia
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/17292/NZ-Schools-selection-to-play-Australia-named
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/17668/NZ-Schools-team-to-play-Australia-A-Schools
* http://www.allblacks.com/news/17709/New-Zealand-Schoolboys-lose-to-Australian-counterparts
* https://web.archive.org/web/20120826035351/http://www.itmcup.co.nz/itmCupnews/20242/Wellington-too-good-for-Turbos
* https://web.archive.org/web/20120906063855/http://www.itmcup.co.nz/itmCupnews/20343/Auckland-turn-on-the-pace-at-Eden-Park
* https://archive.today/20130223022042/http://www.itmcup.co.nz/itmCupNews/20370/Manawatu-lift-sagging-spirits-in-Whangarei
* https://archive.today/20130222215734/http://www.itmcup.co.nz/itmCupNews/20418/Tasman-beat-Manawatu-with-a-bonus-point
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emery, Jason
1993 births
Living people
New Zealand rugby union players
Rugby union centres
Rugby union wings
Rugby union players from Tauranga
Highlanders (rugby union) players
Manawatu rugby union players
People educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School
Māori All Blacks players
Sunwolves players
Rugby union fullbacks
Munakata Sanix Blues players
Rugby New York players