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IRUPA
The Rugby Players Ireland is the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland. Founded in October 2001, its aims are to promote and protect the welfare of professional rugby players in Ireland. The Chief Executive Officer is Simon Keogh and Rob Kearney is its current chairman. Its headquarters are in Clonskeagh in Dublin. Objectives The associations objectives are:- *To promote and protect the welfare of its members, both during and after their careers. *To cater for the educational and welfare needs of its members, to ensure that they have sufficient preparation for the life after rugby. *To work in partnership with the IRFU to further the cause of Rugby Union in Ireland. *To be the representative mouthpiece for professional rugby players on issues of importance to the game. Services Rugby Players Ireland provides a Player Development Manager (PDM). The five pillars of Rugby Players Ireland's Player Development Programme are 1) Education, Training & Skills, 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Bowe
Thomas John Bowe (born 22 February 1984) is an Irish former rugby union player from County Monaghan, Ireland. He played on the wing for Ulster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. In March 2012, after four years with Ospreys in Swansea, Wales, he returned to Ulster for the 2012/13 season. After his playing career, Bowe has taken up television presenting, and is a host of morning television show '' Ireland AM''. Career Early career A former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Bowe was a schoolboy provincial full-back, only converting to wing whilst playing for Ireland U-21s. Bowe played Gaelic football from U10 level with Emyvale, his local GAA club and he also ran for the Glaslough Harriers and represented his local parish Donagh in the All-Ireland Community Games and went to Mosney with the Monaghan Relay team. He represented Monaghan at U16 and Minor level. As well as playing Gaelic football, he also played rugby with Monaghan RFC at underage levels as well as represen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter McKenna (rugby)
Peter McKenna (born 24 November 1974) is a former Irish Rugby International, author, broadcaster and solicitor. Early life McKenna was educated at C.B.C. Monkstown where he played rugby for the school, representing Leinster Schools in 1991 and 1992. He went on to study law in University College Dublin and began playing club rugby in the AIL for Old Belvedere rugby club. In between his time studying and playing in Ireland, McKenna played for North Canterbury in New Zealand in 1994. Upon completion his college work, McKenna qualified as a solicitor. Rugby career In 1999, McKenna put his legal career on hold and resumed top level rugby in the now professional game for Leinster Rugby. McKenna played at both wing, full back during his spell with Leinster. Highlights during this period for the province included winning the inaugural Celtic League (then Celtic League) in 2001 and reaching the semi finals of the Heineken Cup in 2003. McKenna also earned international honours in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian Gerard O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. He is regarded by critics as one of the greatest rugby players of all time. O'Driscoll is the fourth most-capped player in rugby union history, having played 141 test matches: 133 for Ireland (83 as captain), and 8 for the Lions.Irish Rugby: Ireland – Profile: Brian O'Driscoll ; retrieved 21 March 2011 '' |
Conor Murray
Conor Murray (born 20 April 1989) is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Munster in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup. Internationally, Murray has represented Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, whom he captained temporarily in 2021. He plays as a scrum-half and represents Garryowen in the All-Ireland League. Early life Murray was born in Limerick, Ireland, where he attended St. Munchin's College and was part of the same Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup squad as current Munster and Ireland colleague Keith Earls. Munster 2010–2015 Murray made his competitive debut for Munster against Connacht in the Celtic League on 18 April 2010, coming on as a blood replacement. He part of the Munster A team that lost the final of the 2009–10 British and Irish Cup to Cornish Pirates on 16 May 2010. Murray came off the bench to replace Duncan Williams during Munster's historic 15–6 victory against Australia on 16 November 2010. He made hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isa Nacewa
Isakeli "Isa" Nacewa (born 22 July 1982) is a former rugby union player and coach. Born in New Zealand of Fijian descent, he represented the Fiji national team, winning one cap in 2003. Nacewa was a utility back who played for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition and Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup. Nacewa moved to Leinster in 2008, and over two spells won four European Cups, and captained the team to European Champions Cup and Pro14 titles in his final season. He retired from playing at the end of the 2017–2018 season. He took a two-year break from playing from 2013 to 2015, when he returned to New Zealand and had a coaching role with the Blues. Career New Zealand Nacewa was one of the stand-out players for Auckland in their 2005 NPC-winning season, Nacewa is a speedy and versatile player who can play as an outside back or centre. He also proved that he can play as a first five-eighth when he covered successfully for the injured Luke McAlister during the 200 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
CJ Stander
Christiaan Johan Stander (born 5 April 1990) is a South African-Irish former rugby union player. Stander's career began in his native South Africa, where he played for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup between 2010 and 2012 and for the Bulls in Super Rugby in 2012. He moved to Irish province Munster in 2012 and, after qualifying via residency in 2015, made his debut for Ireland in 2016, going on to earn 51 caps for his adopted country, as well as 1 cap for the British & Irish Lions in 2017, before retiring in 2021. Early life Stander was born in George, South Africa, where his family own a farm. Prior to focusing on rugby, Stander was a champion discus thrower as a teenager. Stander's native language growing up was Afrikaans. Rugby career Youth rugby Stander went to Blanco Primary School, where he began playing rugby at the age of nine, playing as a fly-half. He then went to Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale ''(Oakdale Agricultural High School)'', where he shifted into the numbe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul O'Connell
Paul Jeremiah O'Connell (born 20 October 1979) is an Irish former rugby union player and coach. When he stopped playing, he was Ireland's third most-capped player (108) and the eighteenth most-capped international player in rugby union history. During his career, O'Connell captained Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He is now the forwards coach for the Ireland national men's team. Early life O'Connell was born in Limerick, Ireland to Mick and Sheila O'Connell. He attended the Model School and Ardscoil Rís, Limerick where he initially excelled at swimming and only started playing rugby at the age of 16, playing for the school in the Munster Schools Senior Cup and representing Irish Schools in 1997–98 along with international teammate Gordon D'Arcy. He also played five consecutive games with the Ireland U21s with Donncha O'Callaghan as his second row partner. O'Connell completed 3 out of 4 years of a Computer Engineering degree at the University of Limerick, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rob Kearney
Robert Kearney (born 26 March 1986) is an Irish rugby union former player. He played for 15 years for Leinster followed by a 6 month stint in Australia, playing for Perth based side Western Force. He also played over a decade for the Ireland national rugby union team with whom he earned 95 caps, and went on two British & Irish Lions tours in 2009 and 2013. As a youth he also played rugby union for Clongowes Wood College and Gaelic football for Louth in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.Kearney just taking it all in his stride Independent.ie, 14 February 2009 Early life and education Kearney was born and raised on a dairy farm in the |
Nick Williams (rugby Union)
Nick Williams (born 2 December 1983) is a retired rugby union player. A number 8, Williams played for North Harbour and the Blues in his native New Zealand, before moving to Europe and playing for Munster, Aironi, Ulster and Cardiff Blues before retiring in 2020. Career Williams initially played rugby league, changing to rugby union in his late teens. He then progressed to play for North Harbour as well as representing New Zealand in Under 21's. He then went on to play for the Blues in the Super 14, and was selected for the Junior All Blacks. Williams played for Munster in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup for two seasons. He made 19 appearances for Munster and scored four tries, including a hat-trick against the Newport Gwent Dragons. He joined Aironi on a one-year deal for the 2010/11 season. On 22 June 2012, Williams signed for Ulster on a two-year deal after leaving Aironi. On the signing, David Humphreys the Ulster Director of Rugby, said Williams would ad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrew Trimble
Andrew Trimble (born 20 October 1984) is a former Irish rugby union player who played for Ulster and represented Ireland at international level. Club career He attended Coleraine Academical Institution, where he competed in the Ulster Schools Cup. He played at outside centre or on the wing for Ulster Rugby. In April 2006 he signed a new three-year deal with Ulster. Trimble also played club rugby for Ballymena RFC in the AIB League and has represented Ireland Schools and the Ireland U21 team. Due to a pre-season groin injury, however, he required surgery and missed part of the 2007–08 season. He later underwent a hernia operation. On 30 April 2009, Trimble underwent surgery on his right knee to remove a piece of chipped bone. In May 2018, Trimble announced that he would be retiring from rugby at the end of the 2017–18 season. He does however, on occasion, still partake in amateur level competition with his local Coleraine rugby club. International career Trimble, re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Johnny O'Connor
Johnny O'Connor (born 9 February 1980) is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He is currently a strength and conditioning coach at his former club Connacht, having previously performed that role at football clubs Arsenal and Galway United. During his playing career he was primarily a flanker. O'Connor spent most of his career with Irish provincial side Connacht, making over 100 appearances across two stints with the team. He also spent four seasons with English Premiership side Wasps in between. He also played amateur club rugby for Galwegians and Galway Corinthians. O'Connor played for at full international level. He made his debut for in 2004 against South Africa. He made 12 appearances for Ireland, and was part of the 2006 team that won the Triple Crown. O'Connor was named 2005 Irish Rugby Union Players' Association player of the year. O'Connor received his secondary education from Garbally College and is also a graduate of Setanta College Setanta Co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the IRFU Ulster Branch, which is one of the four primary branches of the IRFU and is responsible for rugby union throughout the geographical Irish province of Ulster, comprising Northern Ireland ( Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone) and three counties in the Republic of Ireland which are Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. History Foundation (1868–1879) A number of clubs were operating in Ulster prior to the foundation of the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Ulster branch. The Belfast-based Northern Ireland F.C., founded in 1868, was the earliest club to operate in the province. Clubs from this era still in existence include Dungannon and Queen's University. The first Irish inter-provincial game took place in 1875 between Ulster and Leinster, with Ulster b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
