SCOTT ROBERTSON SAYS he expects the door to open for Oliver Jager next season after the Irish prop was included in Crusaders’ 2018 Super Rugby squad.
The Crusaders head coach, who last season guided the club to a first Super Rugby title in nine years, has included the 22-year-old tighthead in his 38-man panel for next year.
Jager made his Super Rugby debut against the Reds in 2017 and went onto make five appearances for the Crusaders during their title-winning campaign, making a big enough impression to be retained for 2018.
“Oli had limited game time for us in 2017 but continues to work hard and stepped up when needed,” Robertson said of the former Blackrock College student.
“He has had some great performances for Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup this season and we know the opportunities will come for him at tighthead prop in 2018, in the absence of Owen Franks in the competition’s early stages.
“We have a lot of confidence in Oli’s ability and look forward to seeing him get stuck in to his work in 2018.”
Naas man Jager won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup with Blackrock College in 2013, and played for the Ireland U18 Schools team the same year.
He travelled to New Zealand as a 17-year-old to attend the International High Performance Unit [IHPU] in Christchurch, impressing enough to be asked back to play club rugby the following season.
Jager’s performances with New Brighton earned him a place in the Canterbury academy and he progressed into their Mitre 10 Cup squad last year before helping the province to further Premiership Division success at the weekend.
He joins the likes of Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock in Robertson’s squad as Crusaders begin preparations for their tilt at back-to-back Super Rugby titles.
The 2018 Super Rugby season gets underway on 17 February.
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If he’s that good we should get the lad home .. Ulster could really do with some better frontrow options
@Marcodub: why would he come back, living the dream in nz and playing for the top team
@Marcodub: He doesn’t either start or bench for them, he’s a squad player who plays when the internationals are away. It’s just the usual business of the Irish media hyping up a player overseas.
@Marcodub: what Rochelle is trying to say id he’s from Dublin.
@Rochelle: and to be honest I’d say he’s more likely to play for nz at this point
@Patrick Corbett: based on?
@Rochelle: is your hatred for all things Leinster that strong. A 22 year old tighthead prop playing for one the the best clubs on he planet and you have to belittle him? Get some help
@Chris Mc: he’d come home cause NZ is a kip.. plus just mute Rochelle.. I have.. best not to encourage little children
@Rochelle: he’s a 22 year old tight head. He’s only starting his career.
He is learning from some of the best players and coaches in rugby.
It will be a massive loss if he doesn’t end up playing back in Ireland.
@Paul K Murphy: the guy has said he feels he’s Irish and wants to play for Ireland. Until he announces otherwise it’s all just chat.
@Paul K Murphy: yes and your opinions are of course completely valid and valued, in spite of the player you’re discussing specifically stating the opposite.
The modern world.
No one knows his true aspirations only himself & at 22 to be training & playing with a top class team like the crusaders is a phenomenal achievement. If he gets the opportunity to represent NZ & wants that, then the best of luck to him. If he decides to come home & represent Ireland then we’ll gladly take him.
I’ve been in Christchurch for the last two years and he is held in high regard. Lets not forget that the starting front three are Franks, Moody and Taylor which is pretty much the All Blacks front three. He’s good enough to challenge at the most successful club in the world (8 out of 21 super rugby titles) he must be handy enough.
He’s previously said he’d like to play for Ireland, which means moving back. He’s not going to move back without a contact. Just for your information, it’s the NZ press that mentioned his potential as a future AB.
Also qualifies to play for England and Holland.
With the money in England and the lack of top quality tight heads…..
@Julian Knipe: time to bring him back for sure but let’s be level headed about the player himself , Michael Bent had played in Super rugby as had Tom Court before landing in Ireland . Good comment about English qualification , Ben Teo would be starting for Ireland this autumn had it not been for his English mother .