One-time New Zealand All Black prop Jamie Mackintosh is headed to Ohio. The 31-year-old loosehead specialist has ended a short spell in the Top 14 as a medical joker with Montpellier and will join the new PRO Rugby franchise for their inaugural season. This will be the first year since 2006 that the former Highlanders and Chiefs players will not be involved in Super Rugby.
Nicknamed ‘Whoppa’ for his massive frame, Mackintosh is the longest-serving captain in Southland Stags history, having first led the New Zealand provincial side in 2008. He captained the New Zealand side in two consecutive IRB (now World Rugby) u21 Championships in 2005 and 2006, and has appeared in more than 100 provincial level matches with 89 Super Rugby caps also on his ledger. His first and only international cap came against Scotland in November of 2008.