{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player (born 1988)}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Ash Dixon | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Ashley Lyonal Dixon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|01|df=y}} | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | height = {{convert|182|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|102|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = Christchurch Boys' High School | university = | relatives = | occupation = | spouse = | position = Hooker | currentclub = Kobelco Kobe Steelers | allblackno = | allblackid = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2008–2021 | clubs1 = Hawke's Bay | apps1 = 111 | points1 = 140 | years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = Auckland | apps2 = 23 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2013–2014 | clubs3 = Hurricanes | apps3 = 15 | points3 = 5 | years4 = 2015–2021 | clubs4 = Highlanders | apps4 = 100 | points4 = 65 | years5 = 2018 | clubs5 = Panasonic Wild Knights | apps5 = 4 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2021–2025 | clubs6 = NEC Green Rockets | apps6 = 46 | points6 = 80 | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Kobelco Kobe Steelers | apps7 = 14 | points7 = 30 | repyears1 = 2007 | repteam1 = New Zealand U19 | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 0 | repyears2 = 2008 | repteam2 = New Zealand U20 | repcaps2 = 5 | reppoints2 = 0 | repyears3 = 2013–2021 | repteam3 = Māori All Blacks | repcaps3 = 19 | reppoints3 = 35 | repyears4 = 2020 | repteam4 = North Island | repcaps4 = 1 | reppoints4 = 5 | clubupdate = 7 May 2026 | repupdate = 3 July 2021 }}
'''Ash Dixon''' (born 1 September 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Division 1 of the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO).<ref name="Kobe announcement of new players: Dixon"/> He previously played for Green Rockets Tokatsu in Division 2 of the JRLO, for the {{rut|Highlanders}} in Super Rugby and for {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.<ref name="Ash Dixon Green Rockets Tokatsu Player Profile">{{cite web|url=https://green.necrockets.net/member/a_dixon/ | title=Ash Dixon Green Rockets Tokatsu Player Profile | year=2024 | work=NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu |language=japanese |access-date=29 January 2022 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429053649/https://green.necrockets.net/member/a_dixon/ |archive-date=29 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="Ash Dixon Highlanders Player Profile">{{cite web|url=https://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/4-ash-dixon | title=Ash Dixon Highlanders Player Profile | year=2021 | website=Highlanders|language=en|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212185448/https://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/4-ash-dixon|archive-date=12 February 2021|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="2021 Magpies Squad">{{cite web | url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/THE-TEAM-1 | title=2021 Magpies Squad | website=Hawke's Bay Rugby Union | language=en | access-date=27 September 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027115906/https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/THE-TEAM-1 | archive-date=27 October 2021 | df=dmy-all}}</ref> He has also played for the {{rut|Hurricanes}} and {{rut|Auckland}}.<ref name="Ash Dixon Hurricanes Player Profile">{{cite web|url=https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/squad/player/ash-dixon | title=Ash Dixon Hurricanes Player Profile|website=Hurricanes|language=en|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Ash Dixon Auckland Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-Ash-Dixon.aspx | title=Ash Dixon Auckland Profile | access-date=12 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116195454/http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-Ash-Dixon.aspx | archive-date=16 January 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Early career == Dixon was a 2006 New Zealand Secondary Schools representative and Canterbury age-group rep through to Under-19 level. He has won the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship with the New Zealand Under-19 team as well as the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship with the New Zealand Under-20s.<ref name="Ash Dixon Blues Player Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.theblues.co.nz/players/0-Ash-Dixon.aspx |title=Ash Dixon Blues Player Profile |access-date=11 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208185609/http://www.theblues.co.nz/players/0-Ash-Dixon.aspx |archive-date=8 February 2011}}</ref>
== Senior career == Dixon started his career with {{rut|Hawke's Bay}}, playing 21 matches for the province from 2008 to 2009 before shifting north to further his career with {{rut|Auckland}}. The move paid off after he was awarded a wider training group contract with the {{rut|Blues}} for the 2010 Super 14 season. After being a part of the {{Rut|Blues}} Wider Training Group in 2010, Dixon was then promoted to the senior side for the 2011 Super Rugby season,<ref name="Ash Dixon Blues Player Profile" /> but didn't play for the franchise.
In 2012, Dixon moved back to {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} ahead of the 2012 ITM Cup season, and some solid displays for the Magpies saw him named in the {{Rut|Hurricanes}} Wider Training Group for the 2013 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Investec Super Rugby Wider Training Groups named">{{cite web|url=http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/investec-super-rugby-wider-training-groups.html |title=Investec Super Rugby Wider Training Groups named |access-date=10 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210080135/http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/investec-super-rugby-wider-training-groups.html |archive-date=10 December 2012 }}</ref> He made his Super Rugby debut on 15 March 2013 against the Highlanders.<ref name="Ash Dixon Highlanders Player Profile" /> He ended up playing 9 games for the Hurricanes that season and in October 2013, he was named in the Hurricanes squad for the 2014 season.<ref name="Hurricanes name squad for 2014 Super Rugby">{{cite web | url=https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/hurricanes-name-squad-for-2014-super-rugby/ | title=Hurricanes name squad for 2014 Super Rugby | website=SANZAAR | language=en | date=30 October 2013 | access-date=8 February 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207100247/https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/hurricanes-name-squad-for-2014-super-rugby/ |archive-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>
After two seasons with the Hurricanes, Dixon moved to Dunedin to play for the {{rut|Highlanders}}. He was first named in the Highlanders squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season<ref name="Highlanders announce 2015 squad">{{cite press release | url=http://www.thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news/629-highlanders-announce-2015-squad | title=Highlanders announce 2015 squad | website=Highlanders | date=29 October 2014 | access-date=8 February 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031180653/http://www.thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news/629-highlanders-announce-2015-squad |archive-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> and played 7 seasons for the southern franchise. He was part of the Highlanders squad that won the 2015 Super Rugby title, defeating the {{Rut|Hurricanes}} 21–14 in the final.<ref name="Highlanders team named for 2015 Super Rugby Final">{{cite press release | url=http://thehighlanders.co.nz/news/702-highlanders-team-named-for-2015-super-rugby-final | title=Highlanders team named for 2015 Super Rugby Final | website=Highlanders | language=en | date=2 July 2015 | access-date=12 October 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604101559/http://thehighlanders.co.nz/news/702-highlanders-team-named-for-2015-super-rugby-final | archive-date=4 June 2017 | df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Highlanders superb in Super Rugby title win">{{cite web | url=http://superrugby.co.nz/News/27590/highlanders-superb-in-super-rugby-title-win | title=Highlanders superb in Super Rugby title win | website=allblacks.com | language=en | date=4 July 2015 | access-date=12 October 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125084421/http://superrugby.co.nz/News/27590/highlanders-superb-in-super-rugby-title-win | archive-date=25 January 2016 | df=dmy-all}}</ref>
On 12 August 2021, the {{Rut|Highlanders}} announced that Dixon would be leaving the franchise, having played exactly 100 games for them, to take up a two-year contract in Japan. The same day, Japanese club Green Rockets Tokatsu, which competes in the Japan Rugby League One competition, announced that Dixon would be joining the club.<ref name="Ash Dixon heading to Japan">{{cite press release | url=https://thehighlanders.co.nz/news/ash-dixon-heading-to-japan/ | title=Ash Dixon heading to Japan | website=Highlanders | date=12 August 2021 | access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="2021－22シーズン新加入選手のお知らせ 12/08/2021">{{cite press release | url=https://green.necrockets.net/news/20210812/ | title=2021－22シーズン新加入選手のお知らせ | website=Green Rockets Tokatsu | date=12 August 2021 | access-date=12 October 2021 | language=Japanese}}</ref> He played four seasons for the Green Rockets during which he made 46 appearances and scored 16 tries. He left the club at the end of the 2024–2025 season.<ref name="Announcement of players and staff leaving the team after the 2024-25 season">{{cite press release | url=https://green.necrockets.net/news/20250520/ | title=2024-25シーズン 退団選手・スタッフのお知らせ |trans-title=Announcement of players and staff leaving the team after the 2024-25 season | work=Green Rockets Tokatsu | date=20 May 2025 | access-date=20 May 2021 | language=Japanese}}</ref>
On 4 August 2025, Kobelco Kobe Steelers announced that Dixon would join the club for the 2025–26 season.<ref name="Kobe announcement of new players: Dixon">{{cite press release | url=https://www.kobesteelers.com/news/post27549/ | title=2025-26シーズン新加入選手(追加)およびスタッフのお知らせ |trans-title=Announcement of new players (additions) and staff for the 2025-26 season | work=Kobelco Kobe Steelers | date=4 August 2025 | access-date=3 January 2026 | language=Japanese}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 13 December 2025 in their round 1 match against Kubota Spears.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://league-one.jp/en/match/29256?t1=2 | title=Japan Rugby League One: Kobelco Kobe Steelers v Kubota Spears | work=Japan Rugby League One | date=13 December 2025 | access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
== New Zealand Māori == On 25 October 2016, Dixon {{Snds}}who is of Ngāti Tahinga descent{{Snd}}was named Captain of the New Zealand Māori for their Northern hemisphere tour.<ref name="Maori All Blacks squad named for northern tour">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/30023/maori-all-blacks-squad-named-for-northern-tour | title=Maori All Blacks squad named for northern tour | access-date=25 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030032105/http://www.allblacks.com/News/30023/maori-all-blacks-squad-named-for-northern-tour | archive-date=30 October 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Ahead of their game against Munster in Thomond Park in Limerick, he presented a Māori jersey with the initials of the recently deceased Anthony Foley to Foley's sons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/86393153/New-Zealand-Maori-pay-tribute-to-late-Munster-coach-Anthony-Foley|title=New Zealand Maori pay tribute to late Munster coach Anthony Foley|date=12 November 2016|work=Stuff NZ|access-date=12 November 2016}}</ref>
In 2020, Dixon was awarded the Tom French Cup for Māori rugby player of the year.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300187041/all-blacks-captain-sam-cane-ends-tough-year-with-top-nz-rugby-award-for-2020 | title=All Blacks captain Sam Cane ends tough year with top NZ Rugby award for 2020 | date=18 December 2020 | work=Stuff.co.nz | access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>
==Career honours==
'''Highlanders'''
*Super Rugby - 2015
'''Hawke's Bay'''
*ITM Cup Championship - 2015 *Mitre 10 Cup Championship - 2020
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/ashley-lyonal-dixon New Zealand Rugby History profile] * [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_8476.html Ash Dixon Itsrugby Player Statistics] * [https://all.rugby/player/ash-dixon All Rugby profile] * [https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=186 Rugby Database profile]
{{Kobelco Kobe Steelers squad}} {{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef | before = Sarah Hirini}} {{s-ttl | title = Tom French Memorial<br>Māori rugby union player of the year| years=2020}} {{s-aft | after = Sarah Hirini}} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Ash}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Christchurch Category:Rugby union hookers Category:Auckland rugby union players Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players Category:Māori All Blacks players Category:Saitama Wild Knights players Category:Green Rockets Tokatsu players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:Waikato Tainui people Category:Kobelco Kobe Steelers players