Joe Ansbro

{{infobox rugby biography

| name = Joe Ansbro

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| alt =

| birth_name = Joe Ansbro

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|29|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|96|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} {{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/london_irish.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby - London Irish |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |access-date=21 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206145353/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/london_irish.php?section=1 |archive-date= 6 February 2012 }}

| school = Stonyhurst College

| university = Cambridge University

| ru_currentteam =

| position = Centre

| youthyears1 = 2003–2007

| youthclubs1 = Northampton Saints

| years1 = 2007–2011

| years2 = 2011–2013

| clubs1 = Northampton Saints

| clubs2 = London Irish

| apps1 =

| apps2 = 79

| points1 =

| points2 = 105

| ru_clubupdate = 4 November 2009

| repyears1 = 2010–2013

| repteam1 = Scotland

| repcaps1 = 11

| reppoints1 = 15

| ru_ntupdate = 15 May 2013

}}

Joe Ansbro (Born Glasgow, 29 October 1985) is a former Scottish international professional rugby union player. He is the first player of African origin to represent Scotland at test level in history.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9190528.stm Late Scotland call-up for Joe Ansbro]Alfred Clunies-Ross qualifies as the first non-white player, being half-Malay. His favoured position is centre. He most recently played for London Irish.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/london_irish/9386306.stm | work=BBC News | title=Saints centre Ansbro joins Irish | date=3 February 2011}} After gaining 11 full international caps his rugby career ended due to serious neck injury at the age of 26.

Early years

Ansbro was born in Glasgow and raised near Gatehouse of Fleet in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire in the administrative area of Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. He was educated at Gatehouse Primary School before at the age of eight years entering St Mary's Hall, the preparatory school for Stonyhurst College. He played youth rugby with Stewartry Sharks, the youth team of Stewartry RFC. His senior education was received at Stonyhurst College before embarking on study of a Natural Sciences degree at Robinson College, Cambridge.{{cite web| url = http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/player-profile-joe-ansbro| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081023221411/http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/player-profile-joe-ansbro/| archive-date = 2008-10-23| title = Player Profile: Joe Ansbro}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/733/72/ |title="Joe Ansbro" on the Scotland Rugby Team website |access-date=19 November 2010 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728010218/http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/733/72/ |url-status=dead }}

Northampton

Ansbro joined the Northampton Academy in 2006, during this time he was part of the Cambridge University side that took part in The Varsity Match, producing some quality displays for the University. Northampton Saints took notice of this and he became a regular in the number 13 shirt during their season in National Division One, he also scored in the EDF Energy Trophy final.

London Irish

Ansbro joined London Irish in 2011 on a three-year deal. The Scotland centre was one of numerous international players to join the club in 2011. London Irish head coach Toby Booth said: "He's quick, powerful with a great future ahead and will fit in nicely." Ansbro commented that "there are some great players who have committed their long term futures to the club and that speaks volumes for what is happening there."{{cite web |url=http://www.london-irish.com/news/Irish50758.ink |title=Scotland international Joe Ansbro signs for London Irish - London Irish Club News |access-date=2011-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829084844/http://www.london-irish.com/news/Irish50758.ink |archive-date=29 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

Scotland

Ansbro made his international debut for Scotland A during the 2009 IRB Nations Cup tournament in Romania. Scotland A eventually went on to win the tournament, with Ansbro making his debut as outside centre in the win against Uruguay.

He made his first senior Scotland appearance in the 21–17 victory over reigning world champions South Africa in doing so he became the first black player to represent Scotland at test level.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9207058.stm | work=BBC News | first=Colin | last=Moffat | title=Scotland 21-17 South Africa | date=20 November 2010}} A week later he played in the 19–16 win against Samoa at Pittodrie in Aberdeen.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9230505.stm | work=BBC News | first=Keir | last=Murray | title=Scotland 19-16 Samoa | date=27 November 2010}}

Ansbro made his 6 nations appearance in Scotland's opening match of the 2011 Six Nations Championship against France in Paris. Ansbro and the rest of the Scotland team put in an impressive performance against a clinical French side despite eventually losing the match 34–21.

His first points for Scotland came in the 10–6 victory in a 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Ireland{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scotland/rugby/story/145833.html|title = Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN|website = ESPNscrum}} where he scored the winning try in the 76th minute. Ansbro was included in Scotland's 30 man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He went on to score his first RWC try against Romania in Scotland's first group game of the 2011 tournament.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14809745.stm | work=BBC News | title=Scotland 34-24 Romania}} The number 13 jersey in the next two games was taken by Nick de Luca before Ansbro was again selected, this time in Scotland's final group game versus England.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9604350.stm | work=BBC News | first=Mike | last=Henson | title=England v Scotland - as it happened | date=1 October 2011}}

Injury

Ansbro broke his neck in a pre-season friendly against Munster on 24 August 2012.{{cite web|last=Webster|first=Geoff|title=Scotland centre Joe Ansbro suffers broken neck|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19389539|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 August 2012|date=27 August 2012}} After being taken to hospital straight after the match it was discovered that Ansbro had a triple fracture of the C1 vertebra.{{cite web|title=Joe Ansbro: Brian Smith hopeful of centre's recovery|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19399454|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=29 August 2012|date=29 August 2012}} As of 15 May 2013 Ansbro officially retired from rugby union.{{Cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22537531 | title = Scotland's Joe Ansbro forced to retire from rugby| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 15 May 2013 | access-date = 15 May 2013 }}

Teaching

Ansbro, having graduated from Cambridge University before his professional career became a Biology teacher and rugby coach at Harrow School, the public school.{{cite web|title=Former Scotland centre Joe Ansbro tells his story|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54495608|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 October 2020|date=11 October 2020}} After teaching at Harrow School, he soon moved to Stewart's Melville College where he also teaches rugby to the students.

References

External links

[http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/733/72/ Scotland Rugby Team Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728010218/http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/733/72/ |date=28 July 2011 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081026050414/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/4986_4994.php?player=33625&includeref=dynamic Northampton Profile]
[http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/player-profile-joe-ansbro The Rugby Blog profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023221411/http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/player-profile-joe-ansbro/ |date=23 October 2008 }}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Dumfries and Galloway

Category:Northampton Saints players

Category:London Irish players

Category:People educated at Stonyhurst College

Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players

Category:Alumni of Robinson College, Cambridge

Category:Anglo-Scots

Category:Black British sportsmen

Category:Rugby union players from Glasgow

Category:People educated at Gatehouse School