Jono Ross
# Jono Ross

Jonathan "Jono" Ross (born 27 October 1990 in Sandton, Johannesburg) is a South African rugby union player who currently plays for and captains Premiership Rugby side Sale Sharks. His regular position is blindside flanker but he can also play at number 8.

## Career

### Youth

He started off playing for the Golden Lions and represented them at the 2007 and 2008 Under-18 Academy Week tournaments. He also represented them in the 2008 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition.

He then joined the Blue Bulls and played for their Under-21 team in 2010 and 2011.

### Varsity Cup

In addition to playing for the Blue Bulls, he also represented UP Tuks in the annual Varsity Cup competition in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

### Blue Bulls

He made his senior debut in 2011, coming on as a substitute in the 2011 Vodacom Cup match against SWD Eagles, as well as in the quarter-final match against former team the Golden Lions.

He made his debut in the Currie Cup competition a few months later in 2011 against Griquas and made one further appearance that season. He established himself as a regular in the team for the 2012 Vodacom Cup, making eight starts and scoring a try.

### Saracens

At the conclusion of the 2012 Vodacom Cup, he joined English side Saracens for one season, making two appearances in the 2012–13 LV Cup.

### Back to the Bulls

In 2013, he returned to the Blue Bulls and was called into the Bulls Super Rugby side for their match against the Southern Kings, making four appearances in total during the 2013 Super Rugby season.

In only his third ever Currie Cup match – in the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season against Western Province – he was named captain of the Blue Bulls, becoming the first-ever English-speaking captain of the team. At the end of 2013, he signed a contract extension to tie him to the Blue Bulls until October 2016.

He was included in the Bulls squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season and, after four substitute appearances in 2013, made his first Super Rugby start in a 31–16 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

### Stade Français

In November 2014, the Bulls announced that they granted Ross an early release from his contract to join French Top 14 side Stade Français.

### Sale Sharks

On 11 April 2017, it was announced that Ross would return to England to join Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks on a three-year contract starting in the 2017-18 season. Ross was named club captain for the 2018-19 season, taking over from Will Addison. He was retained as captain for the 2019–20, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons

