Nathan White (rugby union)

Nathan White
Full name Nathan White
Date of birth 4 September 1981
Place of birth Hawera, New Zealand
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 122 kilograms (19 st 3 lb)
School Te Awamutu College
Occupation(s) Rugby union player
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s) Prop
current team Connacht
Playing career
Position Prop
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Te Awamutu Sports
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2002–2011
2011–2012
2012–		 Waikato
Leinster
Connacht		 73
16
33		 (5)
(5)
(10)
correct as of 9 January 2014.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2006–2011 Chiefs 41 (20)
correct as of 1 June 2014.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2015– Wolfhounds 1 (0)
correct as of 9 Feb 2015.

Nathan White is a rugby union player from New Zealand. His main position is as a prop, primarily playing at tighthead. White currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro12, who he joined from Leinster ahead of 2012–13 season.

Club career

Time in New Zealand

White first played rugby for the Te Awamutu Sports Club. In 2002, he joined the National Provincial Championship side, Waikato. White was brought in to play for Super 14 side the Chiefs in 2006. The 2006 Super 14 season saw the Chiefs finish in 7th overall and 3rd from the New Zealand teams. Later that year, White won the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup with Waikato. The Air New Zealand Cup had replaced the National Provincial Championship that season. White started at tighthead prop in the final of the cup, as Waikato beat Wellington 37–31.[1] White served as the captain of Waikato for two years before leaving both Waikato and the Chiefs to move abroad.[2]

Move to Ireland

Leinster

White moved to Irish provincial side Leinster in 2011 on a one-year contract, joining ahead of the 2011–12 season.[3] He played 17 times in the Pro12 that season, 9 of these appearances coming from the bench. He scored one try in the competition, this coming against the Cardiff Blues on 2 December 2011.[4] In the 2011–12 Heineken Cup, White made 7 appearances, all coming from the bench, as Leinster won the competition.[5]

Connacht

After his year with Leinster was finished, White joined another Irish province, this time Connacht. He agreed to sign with the team on a three-year contract in February 2012, and join them ahead of the 2012–13 season.[6] In his first season with the club, White played 16 games in the 2012–13 Pro12, starting 14 of them and scoring one try.[7] He also played 5 games in that season's Heineken Cup for the province.[8]

International career

In October 2014, White became qualified to play for Ireland through the three year residency rule. White was named in the Irish squad for the end of year tests, but a bicep injury ruled him out until January.

In January 2015, White was one of only two uncapped players included in Ireland's extended squad for the Six Nations. The other was Leinster back row forward Jack Conan. On 30 January 2015, at the age of 33, White made his first appearance for an Irish national team, featuring as a replacement for the Ireland Wolfhounds.

References

  1. ↑ "Waikato's defence claims the prize". ITM Cup. 21 October 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Evan Pegden (2011-09-05). "Waikato captain Nathan White off to Leinster". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  3. ↑ Evan Pegden (2011-09-05). "Waikato captain Nathan White off to Leinster". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  4. ↑ "Leinster Squad Index: Nathan White". RaboDirectPRO12. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Player Archive: Nathan White". ERC. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "White signs up to join Connacht". RTĖ Sport. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Connacht Squad Index: Nathan White". RaboDirectPRO12. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Player Archive: Nathan White". ERC. Retrieved 9 January 2014.