Ethan de Groot is a New Zealand rugby player who plays for the Southland, Highlanders, and the All Blacks. Ethan plays as a prop and is ranked among the best in his position alongside others like George Bower, Fletcher Newell and Tamait Williams.
Ethan’s influence in world rugby increases with each passing match, as fans love his performances. Off the pitch, he also commands a significant following across social networks. They love the man he is, off the rugby field, his lifestyle, and how much time he spends with his loved ones, family, and friends.
PROFILE SUMMARY
Full name: Ethan de Groot
Date of birth: 22 July 1998
Age: 27 years
Place of birth: Queensland
Father: Rodney de Groot
Mother: Nikkila de Groot
Wife: Claudia de Groot
Children: Expecting firstborn in 2026
Height: 1.9 m
Weight: 135 kg
ETHAN DE GROOT’S RISE AND FAMILY BACKGROUND
The talented prop was born on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, before moving back to New Zealand a few years later.
Ethan’s father is Rodney, and his mother is Nikkila de Groot. His family is a rugby family, and his parents have always shown their love for the game.
In several games, they attended matches supporting Ethan, demonstrating how close-knit their family is.
Growing up, Ethan attended Gore High School before enrolling at Southland Boys’ High School.
At Southland Boys High School, Ethan established himself as one of the most highly rated young players in the country.
He immediately joined the Albion-Excelsior junior academy as he developed his rugby.
THE DECORATED CAREER
Coming on from junior rugby, Ethan de Groot immediately made a name for himself among the best props in New Zealand.
From senior rugby, he immediately got a call from the All Blacks, and it’s been a rollercoaster.
ALL BLACKS CAREER
After a series of top performances, Ethan de Groot got his first call-up to the All Blacks back in 2021. Thanks to his hard work and powerful scrummaging, Ethan soon became a regular in the team.
A few years later, he was part of the All Blacks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup team, playing a crucial role. He helped the All Blacks finish second following a narrow defeat to the Springboks.
As of December 2025, Ethan has made 40 appearances for the national team and stands among the top leaders. He also signed an extended contract with the All Blacks, which will run until 2027, demonstrating his commitment and loyalty to New Zealand.
SENIOR RUGBY (SOUTHLAND AND HIGHLANDERS)
Coming out of Albion-Excelsior rugby academy, Ethan de Groot went on to join Blues RC (Invercargill) and showed his quality.
He later joined Southland in 2018 and immediately became one of the most promising Props in their ranks. After a series of strong performances, he attracted interest from several top clubs before settling with Highlanders in 2020, where he currently plays.
At Highlanders, Ethan has over 50 appearances and is arguably one of their best props in the current squad.
WHO IS ETHAN DE GROOT’S WIFE?
After some years in the dating scene, the talented prop finally asked the question to his girlfriend, Claudia, in January 2023.
Since then, the two lovebirds have been in love, sharing special moments.
They went on to take the next step, committing to each other in a wedding in January 2025. It was a fancy wedding held at a simple but expensive venue called Wonder and Full. Many All Black stars, including Ardie Savea and his wife, attended the wedding, and it was a joyful occasion.
Ethan de Groot and his wife, Claudia. Image via Instagram its_degroot
To wrap up the special day, Claudia spoke her vows, leaving many friends and family in tears. In October 2025, Ethan and Claudia announced their pregnancy, stating they would be expecting their first child in 2026.
Claudia later revealed on Instagram that their baby is a girl, and fans congratulated them.
LIFESTYLE (HOBBIES AND SPARE TIME)
Despite being a very popular name in rugby, Ethan de Groot is also an exciting man off the pitch. Whenever he gets some spare time, Ethan loves spending it mostly with his wife and a few close friends.
He also loves his dog and goes out hunting several times when he is off. He also enjoys fishing, which clearly shows that Ethan loves nature.
The love for hunting and fishing points to his relentless character when playing rugby; he doesn’t rest until he wins that scrum.
To showcase his deep passion for hunting and fishing, he also owns a social club called It’s de Groot Outdoors.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
One of the strongest players in the current All Blacks squad, Ethan de Groot, weighs 135 kgs. He also stands tall at 1.9 m, making him one of the most prominent players in the current team.