Jamison Ratu Gibson-Park, born on February 23, 1992, is a professional rugby union player who currently plays as a scrum-half for Leinster in the United Rugby Championship. Although he was born in New Zealand, he represents Ireland at the international level through residency qualifications.
Gibson-Park spent the first 10 years of his life on Great Barrier Island before moving to Gisborne. He attended Gisborne Boys' High School, where he excelled in rugby and was named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools squad in his final year.
He made his debut for Taranaki in 2012, playing in the Ranfurly Shield matches against King Country and Wanganui. Gibson-Park impressed with his decisive running, gap-spotting abilities, and skill in creating opportunities for his teammates. He scored four tries in eleven appearances and was named the most promising player of the year in the 2012 ITM Cup.
In 2013, Gibson-Park was signed by the Super Rugby team the Blues. He earned his first Super Rugby start in a match against the Bulls. He also represented the Blues against France due to an injury to All Blacks scrum-half Piri Weepu. Despite a slow start in the 2014 season due to a stress fracture, Gibson-Park made appearances as a replacement in matches against the Hurricanes and Crusaders. In 2015, he established himself as the starting halfback for the Blues and played in every game that season.
In October 2015, Gibson-Park joined the Hurricanes for the Super Rugby season, following the departure of Chris Smylie to Italy. He joined alongside fellow Taranaki halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
On May 12, 2016, Gibson-Park made the move to Ireland and joined Leinster in the Pro12 ahead of the 2016-17 season. In September 2017, he and Leinster captain Isa Nacewa were denied entry into South Africa due to visa restrictions, preventing them from participating in two Pro14 matches against the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs. Gibson-Park reached a milestone in his career when he made his 100th appearance for Leinster as a substitute in a 16-6 victory over Munster in the 2021 Pro14 Grand Final. He also featured in Leinster's defeat to La Rochelle in the 2023 European Rugby Champions Cup final.
Gibson-Park became eligible to play for Ireland in August 2019 under World Rugby's eligibility rules. He was named in the Ireland squad by coach Andy Farrell for the remaining matches of the 2020 Six Nations Championship and made his international debut as a substitute against Italy on October 24, 2020. He scored his first international try in a test against Japan in November 2021 and played a crucial role in Ireland's victory over New Zealand a week later. He has also scored tries in matches against France and Italy in the Six Nations.
Overall, Gibson-Park has made significant contributions to both Taranaki and Leinster, earning recognition for his skills and performance on the field.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Gibson-Park has been named in the squad for Ireland.
KG(30/06/2023)
Career
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Leinster Rugby Scrum Half |
2016 - present |
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Ireland Loosehead Prop |
2020 - present |
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Ireland A Scrum Half |
2022 - present |
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Blues Fly Half |
2013 - 2015 |
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Taranaki Scrum Half |
|
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Hurricanes Scrum Half |
2015 - 2016 |
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Maori All Blacks Scrum Half |
2014 - 2017 |
