Taine Plumtree (born 9 March 2000)[1] is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship.[2] Plumtree began his career with Wellington in the NPC, and played for the Blues in Super Rugby. Plumtree has represented Wales, making his debut on 5 August 2023.
| Date of birth | 9 March 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 195 cm (6 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Wellington College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | John Plumtree (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Club career
editWellington and Blues
editPlumtree was a member of the Wellington 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad.[3] He was named in the Blues squad for the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, making his debut during the season.[4][5]
Plumtree scored a hattrick for Wellington against Northland in the opening round of the 2021 Bunnings NPC.[6]
Scarlets
editOn 27 June 2023, Plumtree signed for the Scarlets.[7] Plumtree made his first Scarlets appearance in a preseason friendly against the Barbarians, along with fellow new signing Ioan Lloyd.[8] Plumtree and Lloyd made their competitive debuts for the Scarlets together against the Bulls on the Scarlets’ South African tour. [9]
International career
editNew Zealand U20
editPlumtree was part of the New Zealand U20 squad for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[10]
Wales
editOn 3 July 2023, Plumtree joined the Wales squad for their World Cup training camp in Switzerland.[11] Despite representing New Zealand U20, Plumtree qualified for Wales via birth, and was not bound to New Zealand.
Plumtree made his debut on 5 August 2023, coming off the bench for Wales in the first test of their 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, against England.[12] Plumtree missed out on selection for the final squad due to a shoulder injury.[13]
On 4 November 2023 Plumtree played for Wales in a friendly against the Barbarians, coming off the bench and scoring a try.[14]
A recurrence of a shoulder injury ruled him out of the 2024 Six Nations Championship.[13]
Personal life
editThe son of former New Zealand sevens player and rugby coach John Plumtree, Taine was born in Wales while his father coached Swansea RFC, and later moved to South Africa when John was head coach of the Sharks. Plumtree also qualified internationally for South Africa, through his mother.[6] Taine and his brother Reece both attended Wellington College and played for their rugby team.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Taine Plumtree". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "TAINE PLUMTREE". Scarlets Rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Wellington name impressive squad featuring 17 Hurricanes". Wellington Lions. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "2021 Squad Named" (Press release). Blues. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "Super Rugby: Blues add swathe of young comers to bolster deep and impressive squad". Stuff.co.nz. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Taine Plumtree Player Profile". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Scarlets sign Wales-qualified forward Plumtree". BBC Sport. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Lloyd and Plumtree to make Scarlets debuts against Baa-Baas - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Steffan (20 October 2023). "Wales pair to make URC debuts for Scarlets in daunting South African clash". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "NZ Under 20 squad named for World Rugby Under 20 Championship". RUGBY HEARTLAND. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Wales name Plumtree in World Cup training squad". BBC Sport. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "World Cup audition time for Wales new boys". BBC Sport. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Scarlets' Plumtree to miss Six Nations". BBC Sport. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Wales beat Baa-Baas in rousing send-off for stars". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2024.