James Hilterbrand

James Hilterbrand (born 21 May 1989) is an Australian-born United States international rugby union player, currently playing for New South Wales Shute Shield side Manly and the United States rugby union team. His regular position is hooker, however he can also play as a prop.

James Hilterbrand
Date of birth (1989-05-21) 21 May 1989
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia, Australia
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker / Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013– Manly 69 (75)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2015 Edinburgh 26 (0)
2016–2017 Sydney Rays 13 (0)
Correct as of 28 October 2017
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Western Force 2 (0)
2016 Waratahs 1 (0)
Correct as of 3 April 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007
2016–		 Australia U18
United States
24
(0)
Correct as of 13 October 2019

Youth

Hilterbrand was born and grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, and played for South Australia at junior rugby level. He represented them at Under-16 level in 2004 and 2005, at Under-18 level in the Australian Schools Championship Division II in 2005 and 2006, and at Under-21 level in 2007.

Playing career

Manly

Hilterbrand then moved to Sydney, where he joined Shute Shield side Manly for the 2008 season. He played for their Colts side in 2008, before working his way up the various grade levels, breaking into their Grade I side in 2011 as they reached the semi-final of the Shute Shield.

Hilterbrand was the regular starting hooker for Manly in the 2012 Shute Shield, helping them to second position on the ladder before they were eliminated from the competition by Southern Districts in the preliminary final. He was also selected to represent a Sydney Anchors team against NSW Country.[1]

Western Force

Hilterbrand moved to Perth to join the Western Force on an Extended Playing Squad contract for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[2] He was named on the bench for their match against the Hurricanes in Wellington, but remained unused for the match.[3] He made his Super Rugby debut the following week, however, coming on as a late replacement in a 7–41 defeat to the Brumbies in Canberra.[4] He was named on the bench for a further five matches in the competition, but failed to make an appearance in any of those. He featured in one more match in the competition, starting their 21–15 victory over the Brumbies in Perth.[5]

At the conclusion of the 2013 Super Rugby season, Hilterbrand returned to Sydney to make four appearances for Manly in the 2013 Shute Shield.[6]

Edinburgh

On 26 August 2013, Scottish Pro12 side Edinburgh confirmed that Hilterbrand joined them on a two-year contract.[7] He made his debut for Edinburgh in their 2013–14 Pro12 Round Three match against Welsh side Ospreys,[8] coming on for the final sixteen minutes as they suffered a 10–44 loss.[9] He made a total of thirteen appearances in the competition, starting two of those, as Edinburgh finished the competition in 8th place in the table. He also made one appearance for Edinburgh in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup in their 12–23 defeat to Gloucester.[10]

Hilterbrand made ten appearances for Edinburgh in the 2014–15 Pro12 competition, as they matched their 2013–14 performance by finishing in eighth position in the table. He also made appearances against Lyon and London Welsh in the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup, in which Edinburgh finished top of their group.[11]

Hilterbrand left the Scottish club at the end of the 2014–15 season and returned to Australia to once again represent Manly in the Shute Shield competition, making nine appearances.[6] He returned to Edinburgh on a temporary contract as cover during the 2015 Rugby World Cup; however, he failed to make any competitive appearances for the side.[12] He was also named in the North Harbour Rays squad for the 2015 National Rugby Championship, but failed to feature in the competition.[13]

Kings

In November 2015, it was announced that Hilterbrand was one of South African Super Rugby side the Southern Kings' new acquisitions prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season.[14][15]

International

Hilterbrand was born in Australia and represented their Under-18 team in 2007. In addition, he was also eligible to represent Scotland and the United States.[7][16]

In February 2016, United States head coach John Mitchell included Hilterbrand as a reserve in the matchday squad for their opening match of the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship against Argentina, but he failed to make an appearance in the match.[17][18] He made his international debut off the bench against Canada the following week.[19]

References
  1. "Western Force Player Profile James Hilterbrand". Force. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  2. "Force revamp continues as EPS announced" (Press release). Western Force. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Hurricanes 22-16 Force". South African Rugby Union. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Brumbies 41-7 Force". South African Rugby Union. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Force 21-15 Brumbies". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. "It's Rugby Player Profile James Hilterbrand". It's Rugby. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  7. "Versatile front-row adds options at Edinburgh Rugby" (Press release). Edinburgh Rugby. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  8. "Rugby - Player statistics - club stats - Celtic League 2013 - Games played". It's Rugby. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  9. "Match Centre Master : Guinness PRO12 : Match Centre : Ospreys 44-10 Edinburgh Rugby". Pro12. 21 September 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  10. "Rugby - Player statistics - club stats - Heineken Cup 2013 - Games played". It's Rugby. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  11. "Rugby - Player statistics - club stats - European Rugby Challenge Cup 2014 - Games played". It's Rugby. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  12. "Edinburgh captain Roddy Grant wrecks Romania hopes". Edinburgh Evening News. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  13. "He's Rays Jack of all trades". Australian Rugby. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  14. "EP Rugby Statement". Rugby15. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  15. "SA Rugby Player Profile – James Hilterbrand". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  16. "Checking In On U.S.-Eligible Dual-Nationals". This is American Rugby. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  17. "Mitchell selects first Americas Rugby Championship match-day roster" (Press release). USA Rugby. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  18. "USA Draw with Argentina XV in Entertaining Match". Americas Rugby News. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  19. "Clever Hat-Trick Seals win for Eagles". Americas Rugby News. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
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