1183 Luke Jacobson

Luke Jacobson has been on the national radar for several years as one of a trio of loose forward brothers making their mark in rugby. Jacobson first played alongside his older brother Mitch in the Cambridge High School First XV with both players then making Waikato and the Chiefs, with the oldest brother Kane playing for North Harbour.

A driven and hard-working leader, Luke made the New Zealand Schools team in 2014 and in 2016 captained Waikato in the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under-19s Tournament, was named Player of the Tournament, and also made the New Zealand Under 20 team. The following year he captained the Under 20s to victory in Georgia and made his Waikato debut.

He made his Investec Super Rugby debut in 2018, playing primarily at blindside flanker, and played 13 matches in his first Super season. He went onto captain Waikato in last year’s Mitre 10 Cup. He has been in outstanding form in 2019 as a punishing defender and smart with the ball in hand.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “He a very physical defender, a good ball-carrier and not just as a carrier-passer, he’s got the ability to beat people, has the ability to offload in contact and can play multiple positions.