Jacob Kiraz
Jacob Kiraz (born 23 November 2001) is a Lebanon international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.
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Born | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | 23 November 2001|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 92 kg (14 st 7 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 23 April 2022 Source: [1] |
Background
Kiraz was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and is of Lebanese descent.
He played his junior rugby league for the St Johns Eagles.
Playing career
Early career
In 2015, Kiraz was a member of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs under-15 Summer Development Squad. In 2018, he was a member of the under-17 Winter Development squad.[2][3] In November 2018, he was named in the St. George Dragons SG Ball Cup train-on squad. On 6 February 2019, he was named in the team's final squad, and played eight games and scored three tries during the season.[4][5]
2019
In June, Kiraz signed a three-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys, beginning in 2020.[6]
On 22 June, at 17-years old, Kiraz made his international Test debut for Lebanon, coming off the bench in their 58–14 loss to Fiji at Leichhardt Oval. He set up his side's third try just two minutes after coming onto the field.[7][8]
On 10 October, he was named in Lebanon's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s squad.[9] Kiraz played just one game in the tournament before being disqualified for being under the age of 18. While the International Rugby League allows players 16 or older to play in Test matches, the National Rugby League, who ran the tournament, stipulates that you must be 18 to play. Kiraz, who would not turn 18 until November.[10][11]
2020
In 2020, Kiraz moved to Townsville but played just one game for the Townsville Blackhawks Under-20s side before moving back to Sydney after the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
2021
In 2021, Kiraz joined the Newcastle Knights on an NRL development contract.[13]
2022
After not being able to break through for an NRL debut at the Newcastle club, Kiraz returned to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ahead of the 2022 season.[14]
In round 7 of the 2022 NRL season, Kiraz made his NRL debut for Canterbury against Brisbane.[15]
References
- "Jacob Kiraz - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
- "Development Squads Announced". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 19 November 2015.
- "Bulldogs Under 17 Winter Development Squad". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 9 July 2018.
- "St George, Illawarra junior representative train-on squads announced". St George Illawarra Dragons. 22 November 2018.
- "Junior representatives squads announced". St George Illawarra Dragons. 6 February 2019.
- "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". www.townsvillebulletin.com.au.
- "2019 Representative round teams: State of Origin, Test squads, NSW v Queensland". National Rugby League. 22 June 2019.
- "Maika Sivo and Suliasi Vunivalu fire as Fiji Bati overpower Lebanon". National Rugby League. 22 June 2019.
- "2019 World Cup Nines squads and player numbers". National Rugby League. 18 October 2019.
- "Cedars stripped of win after having two players disqualified". National Rugby League. 19 October 2019.
- "World Nines, World 9s: Lebanon points stripped vs France, Wales, fight, video, Rugby League NRL 2019". 19 October 2019.
- "Kiraz craving top tier football ahead of Round 1". QRL. 12 March 2020.
- "Full 2021 NRL squad list and development players". Newcastle Knights. 4 February 2021.
- Pryde, Scott (20 January 2022). "Bulldogs make raid on rivals to secure departed local junior". Zero Tackle.
- "Round 7 Team News: Squad confirmed for Broncos clash". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 22 April 2022.