Prop Jermaine Ainsley has committed his future to Australian Rugby after re-signing with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels until the end of 2020.
The highly rated 22-year old featured for the Wallabies in their clash with the Barbarians in Sydney last October but injury cruelled his chances of a Test debut on the 2017 Spring Tour.
Melbourne Rebels prop Jermaine Ainsley said: “I’m really excited to be staying here in Melbourne. We’ve got a really good young group and we’re building something special with Dave (Wessels) as well.
“Playing for the Wallabies is one of my goals for 2018. I've been around the train-on squad for a couple of years now so I know how much hard work it takes to be a Test prop.
“I have learned a lot from guys like Sekope (Kepu) and Allan (Alaalatoa) in the Wallabies squad but it’s also great to learn under players like Tetera (Faulkner) who was with me at the Force and now here at the Rebels,” Ainsley said.
Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: “There’s a lot to like about Jermaine and a stack of potential that he can discover. He’s part of our young crew adding to competition for places in the Wallaby team.
“I know he has a lot of ambition, he likes the battle and that is what I like about him. I’m really happy to see him re-sign at Melbourne for the coming years,” Cheika said.
A product of the Nedlands club in Perth, Ainsley was born in New Zealand and was pursued by teams across the Tasman.
Jermaine’s father, Joe McDonnell, was a Test loosehead prop and played Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and Highlanders in New Zealand.
Jermaine Ainsley
Position: Prop
Height: 181cm
Weight: 121kg
DOB: 08/08/95
Super Rugby debut: 2016 v Melbourne Rebels, Perth
Super Rugby caps: 26 (17 Western Force, 9 Melbourne Rebels)
