{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use South African English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography | name = JT Jackson | image = | caption = Jackson in 2024 at Montauban Rugby Club. | fullname = John Thomas Jackson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|07|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Calvinia, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.91}} | weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale, Riversdal | university = | relatives = | position = Centre / Fly-half | currentclub = {{Rut|Southern Kings}} | youthyears1 = 2009–2014 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} | youthyears2 = 2015–2017 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | years1 = 2016–2019 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls XV}} | apps1 = 18 | points1 = 62 | years2 = 2017–2018 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps2 = 16 | points2 = 17 | years3 = 2018–2019 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Bulls}} | apps3 = 3 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2019-2020 | clubs4 = Southern Kings | apps4 = 9 | points4 = 15 | years5 = 2021- | clubs5 = Rouen | apps5 = 38 | points5 = 33 | amatyears1 = 2015 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}} | amatapps1 = 7 | amatpoints1 = 15 | repyears1 = 2014 | repteam1 = South Africa Schools | repcaps1 = 3 | reppoints1 = 10 | repyears2 = 2015–2016 | repteam2 = South Africa Under-20 | repcaps2 = 7 | reppoints2 = 5 | clubupdate = 11 July 2019 | repupdate = 13 April 2018 }}
'''John Thomas Jackson''' (born 10 July 1996) is a South African rugby union player for Rouen Normandie Rugby in the Pro D2.<ref name="SARU Player Profile JT Jackson">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=49479 | name=JT Jackson | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> His usually plays as either an inside or outside centre, but he has also occasionally played fly-half in the past.
==Rugby union career==
===2009–2014 : Schoolboy rugby union / SWD===
Jackson was born in Calvinia, but grew up in Riversdal in the Western Cape, representing the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} at various youth levels. He earned a provincial selection as early as primary school level, when he played as a fly-half at the Under-13 Craven Week held in Kimberley in 2009.<ref name="SA Rugby Squad – SWD : 2009 U13 Craven Week">{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=7450 | team=SWD | compid=725 | comp=2009 U13 Craven Week | accessdate=29 July 2016}}</ref> He was the top scorer for SWD at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2012, scoring a try, seven conversions and three penalties for a total of 28 points in his three starts,<ref name="SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2012 U16 Grant Khomo Week">{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=1391 | comp=2012 U16 Grant Khomo Week | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2013, when he scored 20 points through four conversions and four penalties,<ref name="SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2013 U18 Academy Week">{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=1404 | comp=2013 U18 Academy Week | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and at the Under-18 Craven Week in 2014, scoring two tries, six conversions and two penalties for another 28-points haul.<ref name="SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2014 U18 Craven Week">{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=2094 | comp=2014 U18 Craven Week | date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
At the conclusion of the 2014 Craven Week, he was also named in a South Africa Schools team hosted three matches in an Under-18 International Series. Jackson started all three matches; after featuring in a 28–13 victory over France,<ref name="SA Schools 28-13 France U18">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133414 | homeid=23074 | awayid=23084 | leagueid=2164 | hometeam=SA Schools | homescore=28 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=France U18 | matchdate=15 August 2014 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> he scored one try in each of their matches against Wales<ref name="SA Schools 40-15 Wales U18">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133444 | homeid=23074 | awayid=23094 | leagueid=2164 | hometeam=SA Schools | homescore=40 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Wales U18 | matchdate=19 August 2014 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and England.<ref name="SA Schools 22-30 England U18">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133474 | homeid=23074 | awayid=23064 | leagueid=2164 | hometeam=SA Schools | homescore=22 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=England U18 | matchdate=23 August 2014 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
===2015 : Blue Bulls, Tuks and South Africa Under-20===
After school, Jackson relocated to Pretoria, where he was amongst the Blue Bulls Academy intake prior to the 2015 season.<ref name="Under 19s welcomed to the Vodacom Blue Bulls family">{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/01/05/under19 | title=Under 19s welcomed to the Vodacom Blue Bulls family | publisher=Blue Bulls | date=5 January 2015 | access-date=29 July 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129134244/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/01/05/under19 | archive-date=29 November 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> He joined the {{Rut|UP Tuks}} rugby team – the Pretoria-based university side affiliated to the Blue Bulls Academy – for their 2015 Varsity Cup campaign. After playing off the bench in two matches, Jackson established himself in the starting line-up for the remaining five matches of the season. He scored tries in their matches against {{Rut|CUT Ixias}},<ref name="FNB UP - TUKS 63-8 FNB CUT">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137704 | homeid=23584 | awayid=23594 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UP - TUKS | homescore=63 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=FNB CUT | matchdate=9 March 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> {{Rut|UJ}}<ref name="FNB UJ 0-34 FNB UP - TUKS">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137724 | homeid=23604 | awayid=23584 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UJ | homescore=0 | awayscore=34 | awayteam=FNB UP - TUKS | matchdate=16 March 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and in their semi-final defeat to {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}.<ref name="FNB UP - TUKS 28-29 FNB NWU-PUKKE">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137804 | homeid=23584 | awayid=23534 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UP - TUKS | homescore=28 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | matchdate=30 March 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
Jackson was named in a 37-man training squad for the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team<ref name="Junior Bok training squad confirmed">{{SA Rugby Article | id=2940434 | leagueid=2484 | title=Junior Bok training squad confirmed | date=4 April 2015 | access-date=29 July 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2940434&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729144430/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2940434&leagueid=2484 | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and started for them in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015.<ref name="Varsity Cup XV 24-31 South Africa U/20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=142484 | homeid=25434 | awayid=25444 | leagueid=2384 | hometeam=Varsity Cup XV | homescore=24 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U/20 | matchdate=21 April 2015 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> He was then included in the squad that embarked on a two-match tour of Argentina.<ref name="SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour">{{SA Rugby Article | id=2980594 | leagueid=2484 | title=SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour | date=29 April 2015 | access-date=29 July 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2980594&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729144832/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2980594&leagueid=2484 | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> He started both of their matches against Argentina helping them to a 25–22 victory in the first match<ref name="Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22">{{cite web|url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22 |work=Unión Argentina de Rugby |date=12 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172958/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |archive-date=22 May 2015 }}</ref> and a 39–28 victory in the second match four days later.<ref name="Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28">{{cite web|url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28 |work=Unión Argentina de Rugby |date=16 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522173733/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |archive-date=22 May 2015 }}</ref> Upon the team's return to South Africa, he was named in the final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.<ref name="Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Champs">{{SA Rugby Article | id=3013954 | leagueid=2484 | title=Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Champs | date=20 May 2015 | access-date=29 July 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3013954&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729145358/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3013954&leagueid=2484 | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> He started their 33–5 win against hosts Italy<ref name="Italy U20 5-33 South Africa U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144364 | homeid=26544 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=Italy U20 | homescore=5 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=2 June 2015 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> and their 40–8 win against Samoa<ref name="South Africa U20 40-8 Samoa U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144394 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26524 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Samoa U20 | matchdate=6 June 2015 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> in their first two pool matches. However, he dropped out of the squad for their 46–13 win over Australia in the final pool match<ref name="South Africa U20 46-13 Australia U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144404 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26514 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=46 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Australia U20 | matchdate=10 June 2015 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> and also didn't feature in their 20–28 loss to England in the semi-final<ref name="South Africa U20 20-28 England U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146274 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26494 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=20 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=England U20 | matchdate=15 June 2015 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> or their third-place play-off match against France, where South Africa achieved a 31–18 win to secure third place in the competition.<ref name="France U20 18-31 South Africa U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146324 | homeid=26474 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=France U20 | homescore=18 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2015 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref>
Jackson returned to domestic action in South Africa, appearing in all fourteen of the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}}' matches in the Group A of the 2015 Under-19 Provincial Championship.<ref name="SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2015 Absa Under 19 Competition">{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=2594 | comp=2015 Absa Under 19 Competition | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> While Tinus de Beer was the main goal-kicker for the team, Jackson also contributed 50 points with the boot during the competition, in addition to scoring tries against {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}},<ref name="Golden Lions U19 15-31 Blue Bulls U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146734 | homeid=27664 | awayid=27674 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Golden Lions U19 | homescore=15 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=10 July 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> {{Rut|Free State U19}} (first in an away match<ref name="Free State U19 24-42 Blue Bulls U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146854 | homeid=27644 | awayid=27674 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Free State U19 | homescore=24 | awayscore=42 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=8 August 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and then in the return leg at home),<ref name="Blue Bulls U19 57-21 Free State U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147494 | homeid=27674 | awayid=27644 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U19 | homescore=57 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Free State U19 | matchdate=4 September 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> {{Rut|Western Province U19}}<ref name="Western Province U19 53-20 Blue Bulls U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147554 | homeid=27624 | awayid=27674 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Western Province U19 | homescore=53 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=18 September 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and the {{Rut|Sharks U19}}<ref name="Sharks U19 20-31 Blue Bulls U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147594 | homeid=27634 | awayid=27674 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Sharks U19 | homescore=20 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=25 September 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> during the regular season, as well as in their semi-final match against Western Province in a 30–29 victory.<ref name="Blue Bulls U19 30-29 Western Province U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147684 | homeid=27674 | awayid=27624 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U19 | homescore=30 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=Western Province U19 | matchdate=16 October 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> Jackson also played in the final, but could not help his side to winning the championship, with {{Rut|Eastern Province U19}} winning 25–23 in Johannesburg.<ref name="Eastern Province U19 25-23 Blue Bulls U19">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147694 | homeid=27654 | awayid=27674 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Eastern Province U19 | homescore=25 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=24 October 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
===2016 : Blue Bulls and South Africa Under-20===
In March 2016, Jackson was again included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,<ref name="Large group invited to Junior Springbok trials camp">{{SA Rugby Article | id=3455814 | leagueid=2904 | title=Large group invited to Junior Springbok trials camp | date=24 March 2016 | access-date=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3455814&leagueid=2904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531082024/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3455814&leagueid=2904 | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 May 2016}}</ref> also making the cut for a reduced provisional squad named a week later.<ref name="Theron names provisional Junior Springbok squad">{{SA Rugby Article | id=3466224 | leagueid=2904 | title=Theron names provisional Junior Springbok squad | date=1 April 2016 | access-date=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3466224&leagueid=2904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531083247/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3466224&leagueid=2904 | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 May 2016}}</ref>
In between training with the team, he returned to the Blue Bulls to make two appearances for them in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series; he made his domestic first class debut by starting in a 20–17 victory over a {{Rut|Free State XV}}<ref name="Vodacom Blue Bulls 20-17 Toyota Free State XV">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158174 | homeid=30814 | awayid=30764 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=20 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Toyota Free State XV | matchdate=16 April 2016 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref> and also started their 17–38 defeat to Gauteng rivals the {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}} a week later.<ref name="Xerox Golden Lions XV 38-17 Vodacom Blue Bulls">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158244 | homeid=30804 | awayid=30814 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions XV | homescore=38 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=23 April 2016 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
On 10 May 2016, he was included in the final South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester, England.<ref name="Ward to lead Junior Springboks in England">{{SA Rugby Article | id=3521484 | leagueid=2904 | title=Ward to lead Junior Springboks in England | date=10 May 2016 | access-date=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3521484&leagueid=2904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531082028/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3521484&leagueid=2904 | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 May 2016}}</ref> He started their opening match in Pool C of the tournament as South Africa came from behind to beat Japan 59–19,<ref name="South Africa U20 59-19 Japan U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=161584 | homeid=31594 | awayid=31604 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=59 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Japan U20 | matchdate=7 June 2016 | date=20 June 2016}}</ref> and played off the bench in their next pool match as South Africa were beaten 13–19 by Argentina.<ref name="South Africa U20 13-19 Argentina U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=161594 | homeid=31594 | awayid=31624 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=13 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Argentina U20 | matchdate=11 June 2016 | date=20 June 2016}}</ref> He was restored to the starting line-up for their final pool match, as South Africa bounced back from their defeat to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France<ref name="South Africa U20 40-31 France U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=161604 | homeid=31594 | awayid=31614 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=France U20 | matchdate=15 June 2016 | date=20 June 2016}}</ref> to secure a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition. He started the semi-final, as South Africa faced three-time champions England. The hosts proving too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory.<ref name="England U20 39-17 South Africa U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=163854 | homeid=32184 | awayid=31594 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=England U20 | homescore=39 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2016 | date=27 June 2016}}</ref> Jackson also started against Argentina in the third-place play-off match, but suffered their second defeat to Argentina in the tournament, convincingly being beaten 49–19<ref name="Argentina U20 49-19 South Africa U20">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=163904 | homeid=31624 | awayid=31594 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=Argentina U20 | homescore=49 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=25 June 2016 | date=27 June 2016}}</ref> to finish in fourth place in the competition.
Jackson made one further start for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup qualification series after returning to domestic action, starting in a 95–12 win over Namibian invitational side the {{Rut|Welwitschias}}.<ref name="Vodacom Blue Bulls 95-12 Windhoek Draught Welwitschias">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=159034 | homeid=30814 | awayid=30844 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=95 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Windhoek Draught Welwitschias | matchdate=15 July 2016 | date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
Jackson was then named in their squad for the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.<ref name="SA Rugby Squad – Vodacom Blue Bulls : 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division">{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=33654 | team=Vodacom Blue Bulls | compid=3044 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Premier Division | accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{US Montauban squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, JT}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1996 births Category:People from Hantam Local Municipality Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Rugby union centres Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players Category:Bulls (rugby union) players Category:Southern Kings players Category:Rouen Normandie Rugby players Category:Rugby union players from the Northern Cape Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France Category:21st-century South African sportsmen