Jono Kitto (born 30 March 1992)[3] is a New Zealand rugby union scrum half who is currently playing for Canterbury in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship; he has previously played for Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors and Harlequins in Premiership Rugby and Northland in New Zealand's domestic championship. He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He’s currently operating a run club called Run Strong. He also has strong interests in cryptocurrency and native New Zealand birds.

Jono Kitto
Birth nameJonathon Mark Kitto
Date of birth (1992-03-30) 30 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthChristchurch, New Zealand
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)[2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Half-back
Current team Canterbury
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015
2015–2017
2017
2017–2018
2018
2019–2021
2021–
Bay of Plenty
Leicester Tigers
Worcester Warriors
Harlequins
Northland
Worcester Warriors
Canterbury
17
29
2
9
0
9
0
(0)
(10)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(10)
(0)
Correct as of 21 July 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 New Zealand U20 3 (0)
Correct as of 3 March 2013

Career

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On 4 June 2015 it was announced that Kitto had signed for Tigers,[4] with Kitto admitting that he signed for Leicester after playing as them in computer game Rugby 08.[5] Kitto made his debut from the bench against Wasps at Welford Road on 1 November 2015[6] and featured 13 times in the 2015/16 season. On 29 February 2016 it was announced that Kitto had signed a new contract with Leicester.[7]

After the departure of Aaron Mauger from Leicester's coaching team Kitto found his game time at Leicester more limited and on 19 September 2017 moved to Worcester Warriors on loan.[8] Kitto played twice for Worcester before returning to Leicester on 4 October.[9]

On 23 October 2017 it was announced that Kitto had been released by Leicester.[10]

On 13 November 2017 Kitto was signed on a short-term deal by Harlequins. Injuries in the scrum-half position at Harlequins was the catalyst behind the deal.[11]

On 11 February 2019 Worcester Warriors announced that Kitto was to re-join the cub that summer.[12] His contracted ended in the summer of 2021 and was announced in Canterbury's squad for the 2021 National Provincial Championship.

References

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  1. ^ "Jono Kitto Profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Jono Kitto Profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Jono Kitto". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Leicester Tigers sign Jono Kitto from Chiefs". ESPNscrum.
  5. ^ "Jono Kitto attracted to Leicester Tigers via computer game". BBC. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Tigers make it three from three with win over Wasps" (Press release). Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Jono Kitto, George Catchpole and Jack Roberts sign new deals with Leicester Tigers" (Press release). Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Jono Kitto: Worcester Warriors sign Leicester Tigers scrum-half on loan". BBC. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Scrum-half Jono Kitto ends Worcester Warriors loan spell". Worcester News. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Scrum-half Kitto released by Tigers" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Jono Kitto: Harlequins sign former Leicester Tigers scrum-half" (Press release). BBC Sport. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Jono Kitto: Worcester Warriors re-sign former Leicester and Harlequins scrum-half". BBC. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.