Isaac Ross

Not to be confused with Isaac Ross (planter) or Isaac Ross Moores.

Isaac Ross
Ross playing for the Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu in 2018
Full nameIsaac Beattie Ross
Born (1984-10-27) 27 October 1984
Ashburton, New Zealand
Height201 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Weight116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb)
SchoolTimaru Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)Christine Ross (mother)
Jock Ross (father)
Rugby union career
Position Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2010 Canterbury 53 (65)
2007 2009–2010 Crusaders 23 (15)
2008 Highlanders 9 (0)
2011 Chiefs 11 (5)
2011–2020 NTT Shining Arcs 100 (64)
2020 Tasman 7 (0)
2021–2022 Austin Gilgronis 24 (15)
2022 AZ-COM Maruwa MOMOTARO’S 6 (5)
2023–2024 San Diego Legion 23 (5)
Correct as of 4 August 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005 New Zealand U21 4 (5)
2007–2010 New Zealand Māori 8 (0)
2009 New Zealand 8 (10)
Correct as of 4 August 2024

Isaac Beattie Ross (born 27 October 1984) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the lock position for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) competition in the U.S.

Professional career

Ross is of Māori descent, and played for New Zealand Māori between 2007 and 2010. He affiliates to Ngāti Kahungunu.[1][2]

Ross was selected for the All Blacks in 2009.[3] He comes from a rugby family: his father, Jock Ross, played for the All Blacks, and his mother, Christine Ross, was a member of the Black Ferns.[4]

Ross began his professional rugby career in New Zealand, representing Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship from 2006 to 2010, making 53 appearances and scoring 13 tries.[5]

He played Super Rugby from 2006 to 2011, representing the Crusaders, Highlanders, and Chiefs, with 43 appearances and 4 tries.[6]

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 Top League season in Japan, Ross returned to New Zealand to play for Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup. He helped the Mako win their premiership title, making it his fourth provincial rugby title in New Zealand.[7]

In 2021, Ross moved to the United States to play in Major League Rugby. He joined the Austin Gilgronis as a player and forwards coach, making 46 appearances and scoring 4 tries across two seasons.[8] When the Austin franchise folded, he signed with the San Diego Legion, finishing his professional playing career there in 2024, contributing to the team reaching the MLR final.[9][10]

Ross also had a long stint in Japan with NTT Shining Arcs from 2011 to 2020, making 89 appearances and scoring 9 tries.[6][11]

Early life

Isaac Ross's talent was obvious from an early age and after starring in the Timaru Boys' High School top side, he played for the national secondary schools and age group sides before having the first of his 53 games for Canterbury in 2006.

Ross had an exceptional rugby pedigree. His father, Jock, a stalwart of Mid Canterbury, for whom he played more than 100 games, and also a lock and lineout expert, was an All Black tourist to France and Romania in 1981, while his mother, Christine, played for the Black Ferns.


Super Rugby

Ross played Super Rugby in New Zealand from 2006 to 2011, representing the Crusaders, Highlanders, and Chiefs.[6]

During his Super Rugby career, he made a total of 43 appearances and scored 4 tries.[6]

His Super Rugby try scoring record includes 3 tries for the Crusaders and 1 try for the Chiefs.[6]

All Blacks

On 22 May 2009, Ross was selected for the Iveco Series 26 man All Black squad. He made his debut against France on 13 June, where he partnered his Crusaders teammate, Brad Thorn. He scored his first try against Italy in the All Blacks 27–6 win over the side on 27 June 2009.

Outside rugby

Outside of rugby, Ross has been involved in community and media activities. He was recognized in the Jigsaw Family Services Extraordinary Dads campaign, which celebrated the role of fathers in children's lives.[12]

He has also worked in television, appearing as a sports presenter on the New Zealand children's program The Erin Simpson Show and as a reporter on Māori Television.[13]https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-ross-counter-matfield-magic

On a personal note, Ross is a father of four and is a qualified wedding celebrant.<ref>{{cite web https://www.1news.co.nz/2019/10/16/eight-years-into-japan-move-former-all-black-isaac-ross-not-in-a-rush-to-get-back-home/https://mycelebrantguide.co.nz/listing/269834/isaac-ross-celebrant

References

  1. ^ Knight, Lindsay. "Isaac Ross". New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  2. ^ "NZ Maori team named for 2010". Newshub. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Isaac Ross – All Blacks profile". AllBlacks.com. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Isaac Ross – Rugby family background". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Isaac Ross". Rugby Database.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Isaac Ross – Player statistics". ItsRugby. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Tasman Mako win Mitre 10 Cup". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Isaac Ross – NA Rugby Database". NA Rugby Database. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  9. ^ "San Diego Legion 2024 season". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  10. ^ van Royen, Robert (27 November 2020). "Former All Black Isaac Ross headed to the US after Tasman's Mitre 10 Cup final". Stuff. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  11. ^ Sutherland, Natalia (17 October 2019). "Eight years into Japan move, former All Black Isaac Ross 'not in a rush to get back home'". 1 News.
  12. ^ "Extraordinary Dads: Isaac Ross". Jigsaw Family Services. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Isaac Ross profile". Māori Television. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
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