Jamie Hannah: the Oxford boy who grew up on the Crusaders and won his first cap at home

Jamie Hannah's All Blacks career so far amounts to about 15 minutes of Test rugby and a midweek match in Johannesburg, and both came about because someone else was hurt. But the towering lock from Oxford, North Canterbury, has spent 2025 and 2026 winning titles: a Super Rugby crown with the Crusaders, two NPC titles with Canterbury and a Ranfurly Shield. Now 24, he was named in a full All Blacks squad for the first time in October, rather than as injury cover, and is with the team in Britain, though not in the 23 for Scotland. This is his story so far.

London to Oxford

Hannah was born in London on 31 October 2002, according to New Zealand Rugby, and grew up in the small North Canterbury town of Oxford. The Crusaders were the team of his childhood. "I have looked up to the Crusaders my whole childhood," he said when he extended his contract in 2025, adding that playing for them was something he always thought would be cool but never thought would happen.

Christchurch Boys' High

He went to Christchurch Boys' High School, which Star News noted in 2019 had produced almost 50 All Blacks, and played in its First XV. In September 2019, as a Year 12 student, he was named in the New Zealand Schools Barbarians squad, the Otago Daily Times' Star News reported. The following year he was named in the New Zealand Schools team itself. Covid meant no games were played in 2020, but the Crusaders note that a team was still named to recognise the players.

Lincoln and the Crusaders Academy

On the back of his 2019 season, Hannah earned a place in the Crusaders Academy in 2020. He enrolled at Lincoln University at the same time and played his club rugby for the university side, and Lincoln University is still the club New Zealand Rugby lists beside his name.

In 2022 he was picked in the 30-man New Zealand Under 20 squad, coached by former All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly, for the Oceania championship on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, the side's first international fixtures in three years. New Zealand won the title. It was a strong group: Fabian Holland, George Bell, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi, all now All Blacks, were in the same squad.

Crusaders

Hannah was called into the Crusaders squad early in the 2023 season and made his debut off the bench against the Brumbies in Christchurch, a 35-17 win on 24 March. He played three games in a row that year, all wins, and said later that the debut was still the highlight of his time in the jersey: "I had all my friends and family there."

In 2024 he joined the squad on a full contract and was named the club's Rookie of the Year. In December that year he extended his contract to the end of 2028. "This is the only Super Rugby team I want to be playing for," he said. Head coach Rob Penney said Hannah had "developed tremendously within the organisation" and that he looked forward to seeing him force his way into the playing side. His team-mates call him "Stilts".

The 2025 season ended with a title. In the Super Rugby Pacific final at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on 21 June, Hannah came off the bench in the 64th minute, replacing Antonio Shalfoon, and the Crusaders held on to beat the Chiefs 16-12.

In 2026 he scored his first two Super Rugby tries, in a 36-20 win over the Blues in May and a 36-32 win over the Chiefs two weeks later.

Canterbury

A shoulder injury delayed Hannah's provincial debut, and he did not play for Canterbury until 2024. He scored in a 34-21 win over Northland that August.

In 2025 he was a regular. He scored twice against Manawatu, once against Southland and once in the extra-time quarter-final win over Counties Manukau, then started at lock in the final against Otago on 25 October, when Canterbury won 36-28.

Canterbury had lost the Ranfurly Shield to Otago during that 2025 season, and on 9 August 2026 they went to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin to win it back. Hannah scored a try just before half-time and Canterbury won 19-15. On 26 October he started at lock again in the NPC final at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch and played the full match as Canterbury beat Northland 43-24 for back-to-back titles.

All Blacks XV

In late 2025 Hannah toured with the All Blacks XV under Jamie Joseph, and was named among the replacements for the opening match of the tour, against the Barbarians at Brentford in London, the city where he was born.

A debut at home

Hannah was not in Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad, named in June 2026, but he was brought in as injury cover, and his chance came quickly. Before the first Test of the Rennie era, against France at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on 4 July, reserve lock Patrick Tuipulotu withdrew with a tight calf, and Hannah was called on to the bench in the No 19 jersey.

He came on in the second half and played the final 15 minutes or so as the All Blacks held on to win 34-32. New Zealand Rugby's profile notes that it was a fitting place for a debut, with his family and friends able to be there. He became All Black No 1235. "I'm really happy with the boys and those that made their debut tonight," Rennie told 1News afterwards.

He went back to Canterbury for the NPC, but was called back in August. After the 33-16 first-Test win over the Springboks in Johannesburg, Josh Lord and Ethan de Groot went into concussion protocols, and Hannah flew to South Africa as cover for Lord. Three days later he was on the bench for the midweek match against the Lions at Ellis Park, and the All Blacks came from 35-17 down to win 41-35.

Into the squad

On 27 October, the day after the NPC final, Rennie named Hannah in the 36-man squad for the Nations Championship tour of Scotland, Wales and England. New Zealand Rugby noted it was the first time Hannah had been named in an All Blacks squad rather than called in as injury cover. Rennie said Hannah and the other players returning to the group "have all shown fantastic form during the NPC".

Style and standing

New Zealand Rugby describes him as a big, physical lock who gets through plenty of work in close. The Crusaders list him at 197 centimetres, and the club's own nickname for him speaks for itself.

Where he is now

Hannah is one of five locks in the touring squad and is not in the match-day 23 for the Test against Scotland at Murrayfield, which kicks off at 3.10am on Sunday 8 November NZ time. He has one Test cap, against France, and a tour match, and will be hoping for more against Wales, England or in the finals weekend in London. He is contracted to the Crusaders until the end of 2028.

Career at a glance

Test figures are from RUGBE's match-by-match All Blacks data to 17 October 2026. Club and provincial figures are from Wikipedia (Super Rugby apps updated June 2025) and Wikipedia's season match records.