Taine Plumtree
{{short description|Welsh rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Taine Plumtree
| image =Taine Plumtree 20250419 174612.jpg
| image_size =180px
| caption =Judgement Day 2025
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Swansea, Wales
| height = {{convert|195|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|108|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Wellington College
| university =
| relatives = John Plumtree (father)
| position = Blindside Flanker
| currentclub = {{Rut|Scarlets}}
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2020–2022
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Wellington}}
| apps1 = 23
| points1 = 20
| years2 = 2021–2023
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Blues}}
| apps2 = 6
| points2 = 10
| years3 = 2023–
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Scarlets}}
| apps3 = 29
| points3 = 30
| repyears1 = 2019
| repteam1 = New Zealand U20
| repcaps1 = 5
| reppoints1 = 10
| repyears2 = 2023–
| repteam2 = Wales
| repcaps2 = 6
| reppoints2 = 5
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
}}
Taine Plumtree (born 9 March 2000){{cite web | url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/player/view/15034 | title=Taine Plumtree | publisher=Ultimate Rugby | accessdate=3 December 2020}} is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship.{{Cite web |title=TAINE PLUMTREE |url=https://www.scarlets.wales/person/taine-plumtree/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Scarlets Rugby |language=en-US}} Plumtree began his career with Wellington in the NPC, and played for the Blues in Super Rugby. Plumtree has represented Wales, making his debut on 5 August 2023.
Club career
= Wellington and Blues =
Plumtree was a member of the {{Rut|Wellington}} 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad.{{cite web |title=Wellington name impressive squad featuring 17 Hurricanes |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/wellington-name-impressive-squad-featuring-17-hurricanes/ |accessdate=28 August 2020 |work=Wellington Lions}} He was named in the Blues squad for the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, making his debut during the season.{{cite press release |url=https://blues.rugby/2021-squad-named/ |title=2021 Squad Named |publisher=Blues |date=3 December 2020 |accessdate=3 December 2020}}{{cite news |date=3 December 2020 |title=Super Rugby: Blues add swathe of young comers to bolster deep and impressive squad |work=Stuff.co.nz |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300173586/super-rugby-blues-add-swathe-of-young-comers-to-bolster-deep-and-impressive-squad |accessdate=3 December 2020}}
Plumtree scored a hattrick for Wellington against Northland in the opening round of the 2021 Bunnings NPC.{{Cite web |title=Taine Plumtree Player Profile |url=https://www.blues.rugby/taine-plumtree-player-profile |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Blues Rugby |language=en-NZ}}
= Scarlets =
On 27 June 2023, Plumtree signed for the Scarlets.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Scarlets sign Wales-qualified forward Plumtree |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66032201 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Plumtree made his first Scarlets appearance in a preseason friendly against the Barbarians, along with fellow new signing Ioan Lloyd.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-14 |title=Lloyd and Plumtree to make Scarlets debuts against Baa-Baas - Welsh Rugby Union |url=https://www.wru.wales/2023/09/lloyd-and-plumtree-to-make-scarlets-debuts-against-baa-baas/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions |language=en-GB}} Plumtree and Lloyd made their competitive debuts for the Scarlets together against the Bulls on the Scarlets’ South African tour.
International career
= New Zealand U20 =
Plumtree was part of the New Zealand U20 squad for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-08 |title=NZ Under 20 squad named for World Rugby Under 20 Championship |url=https://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/2019/05/09/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-rugby-under-20-championship/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=RUGBY HEARTLAND |language=en-US}}
= Wales =
On 3 July 2023, Plumtree joined the Wales squad for their World Cup training camp in Switzerland.{{Cite news |date=3 July 2023 |title=Wales name Plumtree in World Cup training squad |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66077971 |access-date=5 July 2023}} Despite representing New Zealand U20, Plumtree qualified for Wales via birth, and was not bound to New Zealand.
Plumtree made his debut on 5 August 2023, coming off the bench for Wales in the first test of their 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, against England.{{Cite news |date=5 August 2023 |title=World Cup audition time for Wales new boys |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66385702 |access-date=5 August 2023}} Plumtree missed out on selection for the final squad due to a shoulder injury.{{Cite news |date=28 November 2023 |title=Scarlets' Plumtree to miss Six Nations |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/67437284 |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
On 4 November 2023 Plumtree played for Wales in a friendly against the Barbarians, coming off the bench and scoring a try.{{Cite news |title=Wales beat Baa-Baas in rousing send-off for stars |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/67321481 |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
A recurrence of a shoulder injury ruled him out of the 2024 Six Nations Championship.
Personal life
The son of former New Zealand sevens player and rugby coach John Plumtree, Taine was born in Wales while his father coached Swansea RFC, and later moved to South Africa when John was head coach of the Sharks. Plumtree also qualified internationally for South Africa, through his mother. Taine and his brother Reece both attended Wellington College and played for their rugby team.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{ItsRugby|45257}}
- [https://www.scarlets.wales/person/taine-plumtree/ Scarlets profile]
- [https://www.blues.rugby/taine-plumtree-player-profile Blues profile]
{{Scarlets squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plumtree, Taine}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Wellington rugby union players
Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players
Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen
Category:Welsh rugby union players