FORMER IRELAND U18 Schools international Oliver Jager featured for the Crusaders in their 31-3 hammering of the Queensland Reds in a Super Rugby trial match last weekend.
The Blackrock College alumnus was included on the Crusaders’ bench alongside All Black World Cup winners Joe Moody and Codie Taylor.
Naas man Jager started at tighthead for Blackrock in their victorious Leinster Schools Senior Cup final clash against St. Michael’s College in 2013.
That same Blackrock team also included current Leinster star Garry Ringrose, as well as Ireland U20 internationals Jack Power, Jeremy Loughman, David O’Connor and Nick Timoney, and Leinster academy scrum-half Charlie Rock.
Jager also represented Ireland Schools in a squad that featured several of his Blackrock teammates and the likes of current Ireland U20 captain James Ryan, Oisin Heffernan, Ross Byrne and Nick McCarthy.
Jager – who was also a fine shot-putter in his youth – was not picked up by the Irish provinces after school and instead departed to New Zealand to join the International High Performance Unit in Canterbury.
The tighthead’s impressive form for the New Brighton club in Christchurch throughout 2015 earned him a call-up to join the seven-times Super Rugby-winning Crusaders for their pre-season schedule building into the upcoming season.
The former Naas RFC front row subsequently secured a place on the bench for last weekend’s friendly clash with the Reds, a game in which Todd Blackadder’s men steamrolled the Australian franchise.
With the Crusaders set to face the Highlanders, Super Rugby’s reigning champions, on Thursday in their next trial match and then the Hurricanes on 19 February, it remains to be seen what involvement Jager has.
Even promotion onto their bench for last weekend’s win over the Reds is a major achievement for a talented young Irish player.
Murray you’re on the pulse with everything. Well done.
Hi Jon, would u be interested in presenting underage POTY awards in May?
I understand u will be preparing for the Euros but the kids would really appreciate it. It would take about two hours on a Sunday.
Thanks,
Colin
Wouldn’t it be a kick in the teeth if New Zealand acquired his services in a few years. It’d be tough but we couldn’t really have any complaints given the number of project players landing on these shores.
I’m surprised that more Irish players don’t head down to NZ to play ITM Cup or whatever. If players want to be the best they can be it would be a good route
They would need to play local club scene first, which is amateur. Also NZ are a bit funny about foreign players, especially if they play at the expense of a local. An ex Scarlets prop is signed for my local club in Dunedin this year. They are struggling to find him accomodation, and that’s before helping him with work before he even gets looked at as potentially a rep level player. There just isn’t much opportunity here, as there is a long queue of talent
A skillful rugby playing prop that is not beefed up. Perfect for new Zealand rugby but not for bish bash northern hemisphere rugby. One of the provinces should have snapped him up.
He will have the added advantage of being able to speak fluently and have an IQ significantly higher than the number on his Jersey !!