Niko Jones, son of All Blacks legend, signs with American club Old Glory DC
Rising star Niko Jones, who is the son of legendary All Black Sir Michael Jones, has signed with Old Glory DC for the rest of the Major League Rugby season.
Jones started his first match of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign last weekend, as Moana Pasifika went down swinging against a resurgent Queensland Reds side in Samoa.
With his father in the crowd, the 22-year-old played in an historic match at Apia Stadium – it was the first time ever that Moana Pasifika had hosted a Super Rugby Pacific clash in Samoa.
But Jones will continue his rugby development in the United States, where he’ll link up with former All Blacks Sevens star Kurt Baker in Washington.
As reported by RugbyPass in January last year, Jones has previously been linked with a move to the the States.
Injuries stunted the flankers gametime at provincial level with Auckland, as he was held to just seven games over two years.
But an opportunity to play for Moana Pasifika proved too good to turn down at the time.
“Things kind of fell into place to end up here, I didn’t expect it so it’s all come full circle,” Jones told One News Sport.
“It’s been a journey of rugby, injuries and not making all the teams, that’s a part of the game and if anything I’ve grown from it and I’m in a good place now.
“I’m feeling in really good shape physically and all those sorts of things.”
Old Glory DC are coming off a hard-fought 42-31 win over reigning MLR champions New York, which included a 30-point blitz in the second half.
The Washington-based outfit are currently fourth in the east, but trail second-place New York by just one competition point.
Since entering the league in the 2020 season – which was suspended due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic – Old Glory have failed to reach the postseason in two attempts
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It’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
Go to commentsDon’t pay a blind bit of notice to Lukie… he likes the sound of his own voice and is always looking for something controversial to say. He has been banging on about Leinster's defensive system all season like he knows something Jacques Nienebar doesn’t. Which is the reason why he didn’t apply for the job obviously
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