{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jono Ross | fullname = Jonathan Montague Ross | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|10|27}} | birth_place = Sandton, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.91}} | weight = {{cvt|111|kg|lb stlb}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = St Stithians College | university = University of South Africa <br/> University of Pretoria | relatives = | position = Flanker, Number 8 | currentclub = | youthyears1 = 2007–2008 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | youthyears2 = 2010–2012 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | years1 = 2011–2012 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps1 = 12 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2012–2013 | clubs2 = Saracens | apps2 = 2 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2013–2014 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Bulls}} | apps3 = 19 | points3 = 20 | years4 = 2013–2014 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps4 = 21 | points4 = 5 | years5 = 2014–2017 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Stade Français}} | apps5 = 67 | points5 = 40 | years6 = 2017–2023 | clubs6 = Sale Sharks | apps6 = 150 | points6 = 65 | amatyears1 = 2011–2013 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}} | amatapps1 = 19 | amatpoints1 = 35 | clubupdate = 27 May 2023 | image = Jono-ross.jpg | caption = Jonathan "Jono" Ross }} '''Jonathan "Jono" Ross''' (born 27 October 1990 in Sandton, Johannesburg) is a South African former rugby union player who played mostly as a blindside flanker but also played at number 8.
==Career==
===Youth=== Ross started off playing for the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} and represented them at the 2007 and 2008 Under-18 Academy Week tournaments. He also represented them in the 2008 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition.
Ross then joined the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} and played for their Under-21 team in 2010 and 2011.
===Varsity Cup=== In addition to playing for the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}, Ross also represented {{Rut|UP Tuks}} in the annual Varsity Cup competition in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
===Blue Bulls=== Ross made his senior debut in 2011, coming on as a substitute in the 2011 Vodacom Cup match against {{Rut|SWD Eagles}},<ref name="Vodacom Blue Bulls 23-25 SWD Eagles">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20044 | homeid=8471 | awayid=8464 | leagueid=802 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=23 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=16 April 2011 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> as well as in the quarter-final match against former team the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}.<ref name="MTN Golden Lions 26-28 Vodacom Blue Bulls">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20538 | homeid=8470 | awayid=8471 | leagueid=802 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=26 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=30 April 2011 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref>
Ross made his debut in the Currie Cup competition a few months later in 2011 against {{Rut|Griquas}}<ref name="Vodacom Blue Bulls 44-20 GWK Griquas">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20157 | homeid=8542 | awayid=8538 | leagueid=809 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=44 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=19 August 2011 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref> and made one further appearance that season. He established himself as a regular in the team for the 2012 Vodacom Cup, making eight starts and scoring a try.
===Saracens=== At the conclusion of the 2012 Vodacom Cup, Ross joined English side Saracens for one season, making two appearances in the 2012–13 LV Cup.<ref name="It's Rugby Profile: Jono Ross">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_24227.html | title=It's Rugby Profile: Jono Ross | work=It's Rugby | access-date=7 August 2013}}</ref>
===Back to the Bulls=== In 2013, Ross returned to the Blue Bulls and was called into the {{Rut|Bulls}} Super Rugby side for their match against the {{Rut|Southern Kings}},<ref name="Potgieter takes over Bulls captaincy">{{cite web | url=http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/130626/Potgieter_takes_over_Bulls_captaincy | title=Potgieter takes over Bulls captaincy | work=Supersport | date=26 June 2013 | access-date=28 June 2013}}</ref> making four appearances in total during the 2013 Super Rugby season including their semi-final elimination against ACT Brumbies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/bulls-vs-brumbies/preview/61570|title=Super Rugby: Bulls host Brumbies in semi-final|work=Sky Sports|date=25 July 2023|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
In only his third ever Currie Cup match – in the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season against {{Rut|Western Province}} – Ross was named captain of the Blue Bulls,<ref name="Bulls send rookies to Newlands">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Bulls-send-rookies-to-Newlands-20130807 | title=Bulls send rookies to Newlands | publisher=Sport24 | work=Media24 | date=7 August 2013 | access-date=7 August 2013}}</ref> becoming the first-ever English-speaking captain of the team. At the end of 2013, he signed a contract extension to tie him to the Blue Bulls until October 2016.<ref name="Vodacom Bulls name group for Sun City training camp">{{cite press release | url=http://www.thebulls.co.za/article.aspx?artid=2239104 | title=Vodacom Bulls name group for Sun City training camp | publisher=Blue Bulls | date=13 December 2013 | access-date=23 December 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131223132108/http://www.thebulls.co.za/article.aspx?artid=2239104 | archive-date=23 December 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Ross was included in the {{Rut|Bulls}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season<ref name="Vodacom Bulls team">{{cite web|url=http://thebulls.co.za/the-team/vodacom-bulls-team/ |title=Vodacom Bulls team |publisher=Bulls |access-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209015914/http://thebulls.co.za/the-team/vodacom-bulls-team/ |archive-date=9 February 2014 }}</ref> and, after four substitute appearances in 2013, made his first Super Rugby start in a 31–16 defeat to the {{Rut|Sharks}} in Durban.<ref name="Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls">{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/match-centre/?season=2014&competition=205&match=514012 | title=Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls | publisher=SANZAR | date=15 February 2014 | access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="Cell C Sharks 31-16 Vodacom Bulls">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113684 | homeid=16164 | awayid=16174 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=31 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Vodacom Bulls | matchdate=15 February 2014 | date=27 July 2016}}</ref>
===Stade Français=== In November 2014, the {{Rut|Bulls}} announced that they granted Ross an early release from his contract to join French Top 14 side {{Rut|Stade Français}}.<ref name="Ross released to join French club">{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2014/11/11/jono-ross/ | title=Ross released to join French club | publisher=Bulls | date=11 November 2014 | access-date=11 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111095718/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2014/11/11/jono-ross/ | archive-date=11 November 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In his first season he played in the 2014–15 Top 14 season final as Stade Français defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne to become Champions of France.<ref name="Times">{{Cite web |last=Bale|first=Steve|title=Clermont Auvergne 6 Stade Francais 12: Jubilant Stade pip Clermont to Top 14 title|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/clermont-auvergne-6-stade-francais-12-jubilant-stade-pip-clermont-to-top-14-title-mbfv9r2trnf|url-access=subscription|date=13 June 2015|access-date=4 December 2024|website=The Times}}</ref> In his last season at the club he started in the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup final at Murrayfield as they overcame Gloucester to lift the trophy.<ref name="ecc17">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39857187|title=European Challenge Cup final: Gloucester 17-25 Stade Francais|first=Brendon|last=Mitchell|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 May 2017|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
===Sale Sharks=== On 11 April 2017, it was announced that Ross would return to England to join Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks on a three-year contract starting in the 2017-18 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39564800|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Sale Sharks sign South African back-row forward Jono Ross from Stade Francais|date=11 April 2017|access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref> Ross qualified to represent England through a grandparent and at the end of his first season with Sale in May 2018 was called up by coach Eddie Jones to train with the senior England squad although ultimately he did not make an appearance at international level.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44204642|title=Danny Cipriani listed as full-back in England training squad for Barbarians squad|work=BBC Sport|date=22 May 2018|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
Ross was named club captain for the 2018-19 season, taking over from Will Addison.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46685438|title=Jono Ross: Sale Sharks captain extends contract until 2022|work=BBC Sport|date=26 December 2018|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref> He continued as captain for the 2019–20 campaign and led Sale to their first silverware since 2006 when they defeated Harlequins in the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby Cup final.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-07|title=Sale Sharks 2019/20 Season - Squad Confirmation|url=https://www.salesharks.com/2020/07/07/sale-sharks-2019-20-season-squad-confirmation/|access-date=2021-09-25|website=Sale Sharks|language=en|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708052424/https://www.salesharks.com/2020/07/07/sale-sharks-2019-20-season-squad-confirmation/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54208625|title=Premiership Rugby Cup final: Sale Sharks edge out Harlequins thanks to late comeback|work=BBC Sport|date=21 September 2020|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref> He was retained as captain for the 2020-2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-19|title=TEAM NEWS - Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership Round 1|url=https://www.salesharks.com/2020/11/19/team-news-sale-sharks-v-northampton-saints-gallagher-premiership-round-1/|access-date=2021-09-25|website=Sale Sharks|language=en}}</ref> and 2021-2022 seasons.
Ross played the last game of his career when he started in the 2022–23 Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham Stadium which Sale lost against Saracens to finish runners up.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65727086|title=Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller|first=Sophie|last=Hurcom|website=BBC Sport|date=27 May 2023|accessdate=4 December 2024}}</ref> At the end of that season he retired from the sport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65425425|title=Jono Ross: Sale Sharks captain to retire at end of season|work=BBC Sport|date=28 April 2023|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
==External links== * {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=43704 | name=Jono Ross | date=30 May 2016}} * {{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_24227.html | title=It's Rugby Profile: Jono Ross | work=It's Rugby | access-date=7 August 2013}}
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Jono}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:South African rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Johannesburg Category:Bulls (rugby union) players Category:Sale Sharks players Category:Saracens F.C. players Category:Stade Français players Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Rugby union number eights Category:South African people of British descent Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France Category:21st-century South African sportsmen Category:Alumni of St Stithians College