Ethan Roots (born 10 November 1997) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs. Born in New Zealand, he represents England at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.[1]

Ethan Roots
Date of birth (1997-11-10) 10 November 1997 (age 26)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb)
SchoolRosmini College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Current team Exeter Chiefs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2020 North Harbour 20 (0)
2020 Crusaders 1 (0)
2021–2023 Ospreys 38 (5)
2023– Exeter Chiefs 13 (10)
Correct as of 19 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020 Māori All Blacks 1 (0)
2024– England 3 (0)
Correct as of 19 January 2024

Early life

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Roots was born in Auckland to a Māori mother (Ngāti Kahungunu)[2] and an English father from Reading.[3] He attended Rosmini College and after leaving school was a construction worker.[3] He has also competed at Jujutsu.[4]

Club career

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After playing for local club East Coast Bays, Roots represented North Harbour in the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup.[4] His performances in this competition led to him joining Crusaders although he made only one appearance during the 2020 Super Rugby season against Highlanders.[5][6] In December 2020 Roots represented Māori All Blacks against Moana Pasifika at Waikato Stadium.[7]

In March 2021 Roots moved to Europe signing for Ospreys.[8][9] After two years in Wales, Exeter Chiefs announced that Roots would be joining them from the 2023-24 season.[10][11]

International career

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Roots received his first call up to the senior England squad on 17 January 2024 for the 2024 Six Nations Championship[12] for the match against Italy. Roots was given the player of the match award for his debut performance.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Ethan Roots". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Maori All Blacks squad announced to play Moana Pasifika in Hamilton". Gallagher Chiefs (Official Site). 24 November 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Thomas, Fiona (12 January 2024). "Ethan Roots interview: I left cage fighting and jiu-jitsu behind to return to rugby". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b Southcombe, Matthew (7 September 2021). "Meet Ethan Roots, the Kiwi jiu-jitsu champion who dreamed of fighting in UFC and is looking to make a name in Welsh rugby". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Crusaders announce new-look 2020 Investec Super Rugby squad" (Press release). Crusaders. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Investec Super Rugby class of 2020 announced". Super Rugby NZ. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. ^ "All Blacks player profiles". All Blacks. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Ospreys sign flanker Roots and prop Lay ahead of Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Ethan Roots: Flanker signs permanent Ospreys deal". BBC Sport. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  10. ^ "officialexeterchiefs: 𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝙀𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉". Exeter Chiefs.
  11. ^ "Wales international Joe Hawkins, Ethan Roots and Will Haydon-Wood to join Exeter". BBC Sport. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. ^ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  13. ^ McLaughlin, Luke; Magee, Will; McLaughlin (match), Luke; Magee (reaction), Will (3 February 2024). "Italy 24-27 England: Six Nations 2024 – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
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