Josh Weru Explained

Josh Weru
Birth Name:Joshua Weru
Birth Date:2003
Birth Place:Kenya
Height:6feet
Weight:16st
University:Loughborough University
Ru Currentposition:Backrow
Ru Currentteam:US Dax
Ru Clubyears:2021-2022
2023-
Ru Proclubs:Northampton Saints
US Dax
Ru Clubcaps:0
0
Ru Clubpoints:(0)
(0)
Ru Nationalyears:2020
2022–
Ru Nationalteam:Kenya u20
Kenya
Ru Nationalcaps:??
3
Ru Nationalpoints:(??)
(5)
Ru Ntupdate:20th January 2023

Josh Weru is an international rugby union player, who plays for the Kenyan National Team as a Number 8. He plays for Dax in the Pro D2.

Career

At 14 years old, Weru joined the Northampton Saints Academy.

On the 3 August 2022, Josh Weru signed a professional contract with Northampton Saints after graduating from their Under-18 set up. His main strength was his ball carrying ability with academy coach, Will Parkin saying: “His ball-carrying ability is amongst the very best we’ve seen at Under-18s level”.[1]

Unfortunately, late in 2022 he lost his contract with Northampton, before he managed to debut for the senior team, due to his aspirations to play for the Kenyan National Team.[2] Under the RFU’s eligibility criteria, to secure a working visa to play professional rugby, a player from a Tier 3 nation (such as Kenya) has to have a minimum of 10 international Test caps, of which three must be played during the previous 24 months.[3]

For the 2023/24 season Weru joined French Pro D2 side US Dax.[4]

International career

In 2020 at only 16 years old Weru was called up to the Kenya U20s squad by Simbas head coach Paul Odera.[5]

In 2022 Weru was called up to Kenyan National Team[6] for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament, where he scored on debut. Coming of the bench to run a 60 metre try in Kenyas 68-14 loss to the USA.[7] Weru earned 2 more caps in the remaining matches in the tournament, against Portugal (in which he started at Number 8) and Hong Kong.[8]

International tries

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saints sign Weru into Senior Academy set-up . 2023-01-20 . Northampton Saints . en.
  2. Web site: News // Weru departs Northampton Saints . 2023-01-20 . Northampton Saints . en.
  3. News: Weru situation explained after young forwards departure from saints sparks social media questions . Northampton Chronicle and Echo .
  4. Web site: Rugby transfers for Dax for 2023/2024 . 2023-06-30 . all.rugby . en.
  5. Web site: Highly rated Kenyan youngster Joshua Weru loses pro-rugby contract with English side Northampton Saints MozzartSportKe . 2023-01-20 . www.mozzartsport.co.ke . en.
  6. Web site: Wamalwa, Weru called to Simbas squad for World Cup repechage .
  7. Web site: Rugby . Asia . 2022-11-10 . Final Qualification Tournament players we'd love to see at Rugby World Cup 2023 . 2023-01-21 . Asia Rugby . en-US.
  8. Web site: Josh WERU profile and stats . 2023-01-20 . all.rugby . en.