Jackson Ephraims U85kg New Zealand rep.

.This year Victorian rugby has seen the introduction of an under 85kg competition for the first time. In New Zealand this weight-based competition has been played for several seasons and Moorabbin Rugby Club has a connection to the recently selected New Zealand U85kg team that is shortly to tour Sri Lanka.

Jackson Ephraims, 25yo, is the son of former junior and senior player Darren Ephraims and has been selected to play on a two-match tour against the open weight Sri Lanka team in early May.

At 73kg Jackson is about the same weight as his father and uncle (Michael) when they played senior rugby for Moorabbin in the 1980s!!!! Jackson has played open Premier rugby as a 9 or a ten (like both his father and uncle!!!!) but has enjoyed the past 3 seasons in the U85kg competition. As a junior Jackson attended Westlake Boys High School which one of the best College rugby schools in NZ and he played his junior rugby at Marist North Harbour. While at school he represented NZ in U18 Touch Rugby and this season he has passed up a chance to represent NZ again in touch against Australia because of the opportunity to travel to Sri Lanka with the U85kg National team.

After school Jackson moved to Takapuna Rugby Club where dad Darren was coaching the U21s. Darren then moved to coach the U85kg team and has done so over the past 5 years winning the North Harbour Rugby Competition for season 2022 and 2023. They made the final of the National U85s but missed out on the silverware.

Jackson works for the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise as a senior Investment Analyst.

Jackson’s grandfather Conrad played at Havelock Rugby Club in Colombo and also played representative football for Ceylon playing against touring Wallaby U21s around the mid 1950s. Sadly, neither test match will be played at Havelock Rugby Club, the matches are scheduled for Kandy and the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo

After Conrad and Julia emigrated to Melbourne in the 1970s their sons Darren and Michael played junior rugby at Moorabbin commencing in the under 10s all the way through to 1st XV level. Both mostly played as a first five. Darren moved to Auckland with career opportunities and Michael to Brisbane for his teaching career as well as rugby and cricket.

We wish Jackson all the best from the club for his tour.