Jayden Keelan
| Full name | Jayden William Keelan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Perth Rockingham, Western Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Palmerston North Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jayden Keelan is a New Zealand rugby union player. He is a New Zealand sevens international.
Early life
Keelan was born in Tolaga Bay, New Zealand. His father, William, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the New Zealand army, and they lived in Malaysia and Fiji and Keelan attended numerous different schools” before boarding at Palmerston North Boys' High School. In 2019, he was a member of the Palmerston first-XV rugby union team that was ranked in the top eight in New Zealand, with his teammates including Ruben Love.[1]
Club career
Keelan played club rugby for Fénix CR Zaragoza in Spain in 2022-2023 before later playing in 2023 in Manawatu, New Zealand, for College Old Boys.[1][2] At College Old Boys he became a teammate of New Zealand Sevens coach Tomasi Cama.[3]
International career
Tomasi Cama called him up for his debut in the New Zealand national rugby sevens team in February 2024.[4] He made his debut in Los Angeles at the USA Sevens in 2024.[5] He played in the 2024-25 SVNS series but a hamstring injury ruled him out of action for part of the season.[6][7] He continued with New Zealand Sevens for the 2025-26 season.[8]
References
- ^ a b "'They wanted me to apologise to the fans': The apprentice builder who went from Spain to the All Blacks". Rugby Pass. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Lampp, Peter (9 May 2023). "Keelan lights it up at first-five as COB beat leaders OBM". Stuff.co.mz. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Ritchie, Ollie (9 February 2024). "All Blacks Sevens coach discovered rookie Jayden Keelan playing club rugby together". Stuff.co.mz. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "17-year-old among fresh faces in NZ Sevens squad as Olympics loom". rnz.co.nz. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "Jayden Keelen". All Blacks. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Lampp, Peter; Heagney, George (17 May 2025). "Keelan praying he can catch the eye of the Turbos". The Post. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "New Zealand Sevens team named for Vancouver SVNS". nzrugby.co.nz. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Morton, Finn (6 November 2025). "New era for All Blacks Sevens as stars exit for Super Rugby moves". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 6 November 2025.