Josh Weru is an international rugby union player, who plays for the Kenyan National Team as a Number 8. He plays for Dax in the Pro D2.[1]

Josh Weru
Birth nameJoshua Weru
Date of birth2003
Place of birthKenya
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight16 st 3 lb (103 kg)
UniversityLoughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Backrow
Current team US Dax
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021-2022
2023-
Northampton Saints
US Dax
0
0
(0)
(0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020
2022–
Kenya u20
Kenya
??
3
(??)
(5)
Correct as of 20th January 2023

Career

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At 14 years old, Weru joined the Northampton Saints Academy.

On the 3 August 2022, Josh Weru signed a professional contract with Northampton Saints after graduating from their Under-18 set up. His main strength was his ball carrying ability with academy coach, Will Parkin saying: “His ball-carrying ability is amongst the very best we've seen at Under-18s level”.[2]

Unfortunately, late in 2022 he lost his contract with Northampton, before he managed to debut for the senior team, due to his aspirations to play for the Kenyan National Team.[3] Under the RFU's eligibility criteria, to secure a working visa to play professional rugby, a player from a Tier 3 nation (such as Kenya) has to have a minimum of 10 international Test caps, of which three must be played during the previous 24 months.[4]

For the 2023/24 season Weru joined French Pro D2 side US Dax.[5]

International career

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In 2020 at only 16 years old Weru was called up to the Kenya U20s squad by Simbas head coach Paul Odera.[6]

In 2022 Weru was called up to Kenyan National Team[7] for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament, where he scored on debut. Coming off the bench to run a 60 metre try in Kenyas 68-14 loss to the USA.[8] Weru earned 2 more caps in the remaining matches in the tournament, against Portugal (in which he started at Number 8) and Hong Kong.[1]

International tries

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Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1   United States Dubai, UAE The Sevens Stadium 2023 Rugby World Cup Repechage 6 November 2022 Loss 68-14

References

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  1. ^ a b "Josh WERU profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Saints sign Weru into Senior Academy set-up". Northampton Saints. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ "News // Weru departs Northampton Saints". Northampton Saints. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Weru situation explained after young forwards departure from saints sparks social media questions". Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
  5. ^ "Rugby transfers for Dax for 2023/2024". all.rugby. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Highly rated Kenyan youngster Joshua Weru loses pro-rugby contract with English side Northampton Saints | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Wamalwa, Weru called to Simbas squad for World Cup repechage".
  8. ^ Rugby, Asia (10 November 2022). "Final Qualification Tournament players we'd love to see at Rugby World Cup 2023". Asia Rugby. Retrieved 21 January 2023.