Vince Aso
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Vince Aso
| image = Vince Aso 2015.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Vincent Tavae Aso
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|01|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| height = {{convert|181|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|90|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = St. Peter's College
| university =
| relatives = Akira Ioane (cousin)
Rieko Ioane (cousin)
| occupation =
| spouse =
| currentclub = Panasonic Wild Knights
| allblackno =
| allblackid =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2013–2017
| clubs1 = Auckland
| apps1 = 38
| points1 = 75
| years2 = 2016–2021
| clubs2 = Hurricanes
| apps2 = 57
| points2 = 110
| years3 = 2019–2021
| clubs3 = Wellington
| apps3 = 25
| points3 = 50
| years4 = 2022–
| clubs4 = Panasonic Wild Knights
| apps4 = 7
| points4 = 0
| repyears1 = 2014–2015
| repteam1 = New Zealand U20
| repcaps1 = 11
| reppoints1 = 25
| repyears2 = 2017
| repteam2 = Barbarian F.C.
| repcaps2 = 2
| reppoints2 = 0
| clubupdate = 16 March 2022
| repupdate = 16 March 2022
}}
Vince Aso (born 5 January 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the {{rut|Hurricanes}} in the international Super Rugby competition.{{cite web | url=http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/the-canes/players-a-z/squad/vince/ | title=Vince Aso Hurricanes Player Profile | publisher=Hurricanes Rugby | access-date=24 January 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/mitre-10-cup/player-profiles | title=Vince Aso Auckland Player Profile | publisher=Auckland Rugby | access-date=24 January 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Hurricanes-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Hurricanes 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | access-date=24 January 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_29966.html | title=Vince Aso itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | access-date=24 January 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/player/194749.html | title=Vince Aso ESPN Scrum Player Profile | work=ESPN Scrum | access-date=16 October 2014}}
Early career
Born and raised in Auckland, Aso attended St Peter's College in his hometown where he played first XV rugby. After finishing high school, he began playing for Ponsonby in the Gallaher Shield, Auckland's Premier club rugby competition. He also started working his way towards a Bachelor of Human Studies degree at the Victoria University of Wellington while supplementing his earnings with a part-time job as a builder.
Senior career
Aso debuted for Auckland during the 2013 ITM Cup and racked up 4 tries in 7 appearances despite being aged just 18. He found opportunities harder to come by in 2014 especially in his preferred position in the midfield, playing only 3 times and scoring a solitary try. However, he was back in favour in 2015, featuring 8 times as Auckland reached the ITM Cup Premiership final before losing 25-23 to {{rut|Canterbury}}. 2016 was not such a good season for the blue and whites as they ended up in 5th place on the Premiership log which saw them miss out on the playoffs, Aso started all 10 games for them during the year and helped himself to 2 tries.
Super Rugby
Aged just 20 and with only 10 provincial games, Aso was named in the {{rut|Hurricanes}} squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10622075/Move-to-Taranaki-pays-off-for-Iopu-Aso | title=Move to Taranaki pays off for Iopu-Aso | work=Rugby Heaven | date = 16 October 2014 | access-date=16 October 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10510868/Boyd-confident-Vince-Aso-ready-for-step-up | title=Boyd confident Vince Aso ready for step up | work=Rugby Heaven | date = 18 September 2014 | access-date=16 October 2014}} Having worked with 'Canes head-coach Chris Boyd before at New Zealand Under-20 level, Aso arrived in New Zealand's capital highly-rated, but lacking in experience, therefore it was perhaps no surprise that despite making the replacements bench several times during the year, he was unable to get on the park at any point to make his Super Rugby debut.
He did make the breakthrough in 2016, debuting in Conrad Smith's old number 13 jersey in the week 1, 52-10 hammering away to the {{rut|Brumbies}}. Things would pick up considerably for the Hurricanes as the season progressed and they went on to finish the year as Super Rugby champions following a 20-3 victory over the {{rut|Lions}} in the final. Aso struck up a fine midfield partnership with both Ngani Laumape and Willis Halaholo and scored 2 tries in 16 appearances during his first season as a regular in the Hurricanes starting XV.
International
Aso was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2012 and later went on to be a member of the New Zealand Under-20 sides which competed in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship and 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. After finishing 3rd in the 2014 edition, Aso's stunning solo effort helped propel them to a 21-16 victory over England in the final of the 2015 tournament which was held in Italy.{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/Index/2234?team=U20 | title=Vince Aso New Zealand Under 20 Player Profile | work=All Blacks.com | access-date=16 October 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | title=NZSchools team named for internationals | work=All Blacks.com | date = 20 September 2012 | access-date=27 January 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | title=NZU20 squad named for IRB JWC2014 | work=All Blacks.com | date = 23 April 2014 | access-date=27 January 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/news/27229/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-champs-in-italy | title=NZ Under 20 squad named for World Champs in Italy | work=All Blacks.com | date = 12 May 2015 | access-date=27 January 2017}}
Career Honours
Super Rugby Statistics
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Saitama Wild Knights squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aso, Vince}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Auckland rugby union players
Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Auckland
Category:Rugby union players from Auckland
Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players
Category:Moana Pasifika players
Category:Wellington rugby union players
Category:Saitama Wild Knights players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan