{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Brandon Nansen | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|11|3}}<ref name="Brandon Nansen Blues Player Profile"/> | birth_place = | height = {{convert|1.98|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|121|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Sacred Heart College, Auckland | university = | relatives = | position = Lock / Loose forward | currentclub = {{rut|Dragons }} | youthyears1 = 2009–2011 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Auckland}} | years1 = 2013–2017 | clubs1 = {{Rut|North Harbour}} | apps1 = 40 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2017 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Blues}} | apps2 = | points2 = | years3 = 2017-2018 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Stade Français}} | apps3 = 5 | points3 = | years4 = 2018-2020 | clubs4 = Dragons | apps4 = 17 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2020-2021 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Brive}} | apps5 = 5 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2021- | clubs6 = {{Rut|Northampton Saints}} | apps6 = 0 | points6 = 0 | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 2011 | repteam1 = New Zealand Schoolboys | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repyears2 = 2017 | repteam2 = Samoa | repcaps2 = 3 | reppoints2 = 0 | clubupdate = 3 November 2016 | repupdate = 25 October 2018 }}
'''Brandon Nansen''' (born 3 November 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Northampton Saints. Previously Nansen represented North Harbour in New Zealand's provincial rugby tournament and the Blues in Super Rugby, for the Dragons in the Pro14 and for Stade Francais and CA Brive in the French Top14. He has also played internationally for Samoa.
==Early life==
Nansen attended Sacred Heart College and represented {{Rut|Auckland}} at under-16 and under-18 level.<ref name="Brandon Nansen Blues Player Profile"/>
==Club career==
He started his senior career in 2013, playing for {{rut|North Harbour}}. He quickly became a regular in the side and went on to make 9 appearances for them as they lifted the Mitre 10 Cup Championship in 2016 and earned the right to play in the Premiership in 2017.<ref name="Brandon Nansen itsrugby Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_29995.html | title=Brandon Nansen itsrugby Player Statistics | publisher=itsrugby | accessdate=3 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Blues 2017 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Blues 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=3 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327154352/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | archive-date=27 March 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Brandon Nansen Blues Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://theblues.co.nz/players/brandon-nansen/ | title=Brandon Nansen Blues Player Profile | publisher=Blues Rugby | accessdate=3 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Brandon Nansen North Harbour Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/profile/player/131/ | title=Brandon Nansen North Harbour Player Profile | publisher=Harbour Rugby | accessdate=3 November 2016}}</ref>
Solid performances for North Harbour over the course of four seasons culminated in their promotion to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership, and Nansen was named as a member of the {{rut|Blues}} squad for the 2017 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Blues 2017 Squad Guide"/><ref name="Brandon Nansen Blues Player Profile"/>
Nansen joined the Welsh regional team the Dragons for the 2018-19 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dragonsrugby.wales/news/2018/may/dragons-land-brandon-nansen.html|publisher=Dragons Rugby|title=Dragons land Brandon Nansen|date=13 May 2019|accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref>
On 3 July 2020, Nansen leaves Dragons to return to France to sign for Brive in the Top 14 for the 2020-21 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53282444|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Brandon Nansen: Samoan lock leaves Dragons for Brive|date=3 July 2020|accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref>
On 29 May 2021, Nansen moves to England to join Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby ahead of the 2021-22 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/samoa-international-brandon-nansen-to-join-northampton-saints-ahead-of-2021-22-season/30793.htm|publisher=Talking Rugby Union|title=Samoa international Brandon Nansen to join Northampton Saints ahead of 2021/22 season|date=29 May 2021|accessdate=9 June 2021}}</ref>
==International career == Nansen was a New Zealand Schoolboys representative in 2011, where he played in a side that featured future All Blacks; Ardie Savea and Patrick Tuipulotu.<ref name="Brandon Nansen New Zealand Schoolboys Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/Schools/2149 | title=Brandon Nansen New Zealand Schoolboys Player Profile | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=3 November 2016}}</ref>
==Career honours==
'''North Harbour'''
*Mitre 10 Cup Championship – 2016
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nansen, Brandon}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Rugby union locks Category:Rugby union flankers Category:North Harbour rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Dragons RFC players Category:People educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Wales Category:CA Brive players Category:Stade Français players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France Category:Samoa international rugby union players