Jonathan Kpoku (born 22 June 1999) is an English rugby union player who plays as a lock forward for CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.

Jonathan Kpoku
Date of birth (1999-06-22) 22 June 1999 (age 25)[1]
Height2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
Notable relative(s)Joel Kpoku
Junior Kpoku
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018-2021 Saracens ()
2018-2020Apmthill (loan) ()
2021-2022 Coventry RFC ()
2022- CS Bourgoin-Jallieu ()
Correct as of 16 March 2024

Career

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Kpoku initially played Rugby League for the London Skolars prior to joining the Saracens academy, where he played alongside his twin brother Joel Kpoku. He made his senior debut for Saracens during the 2018-19 season in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Worcester Warriors.[3]

He left Saracens to play on loan for Ampthill for whom he helped gain promotion to the Rugby Championship in 2019, before returning to them on loan the following season. He later signed permanently for Coventry RFC.[4][5]

He signed for CS Bourgoin-Jallieu in June 2022.[6][7]

International career

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He played for the England national under-20 rugby union team in the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[3]

Personal life

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His parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the older brother of rugby player Junior Kpoku and twin brother of rugby player Joel Kpoku.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "J.Kpoku". itsrugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. ^ "J.Kpoku". All.Rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Ultimate Rugby profile: Jonathan Kpoku". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. ^ Heagney, Liam (17 December 2022). "'I don't speak to anyone at Saracens… they didn't make the effort'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Young Guns: Saracens second row Jonathan Kpoku". The rugby paper. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  6. ^ "CSBJ- Jonathan Kpoku, frère jumeau de Joel Kpoku (LOU), débarque à Bourgoin". Le Dauphine. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  7. ^ Jaycock, Ben (26 June 2022). "Kpoku hopes French move will inspire him". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. ^ Morgan, Charlie (6 March 2024). "Youngest Kpoku brother plays for England U20s – but may have been lost to France already". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  9. ^ "'I was kind of lost in the rugby world, my name had gone quiet'". www.rugbypass.com. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.