Cian Kelleher

Last updated

Cian Kelleher
Date of birth (1994-08-07) 7 August 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Sandymount, Ireland
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight92 kg (14.5 st; 203 lb)
School St Michael's College
University University College Dublin
Notable relative(s) Rónan Kelleher (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Lansdowne ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2015–2016
2016–2019
2019–2021
2021–		 Leinster
Connacht
Leinster
Ealing Trailfinders 		7
54
18		 (5)
(70)
(50)
Correct as of 10 March 2022
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2014 Ireland U20 9 (15)
Correct as of 20 June 2014

Cian Kelleher (born 7 August 1994) is an Irish professional rugby union player. He primarily plays on the wing or at fullback. Kelleher currently plays for Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship. After initially coming through Leinster's academy, Kelleher had a three-year spell with Irish rivals Connacht, before returning to Leinster for the 2019–20 season.

Contents

Kelleher has represented Ireland internationally in Sevens. He played for the Ireland under-20s in the 2014 Under-20 Six Nations and at the 2014 Junior World Championship, scoring three tries in nine appearances. Kelleher made his first appearance for the Irish senior side in an uncapped match against the Barbarians on 28 May 2015.

Early life

Kelleher was born in Sandymount in County Dublin. He attended St Michael's College, where he played rugby for the school side. [1] Kelleher was part of the St Michael's side that won the Leinster Senior Cup in 2012, [2] and reached the final in 2013. [3] After finishing secondary school, Kelleher attended University College Dublin where he studied economics. [4]

Club career

Leinster

Kelleher came through the Leinster academy system. He was late to join the youth setup however, being recognised for Irish under-18 level before having played for his province at any level. [4] He joined the Leinster academy in the 2014–15 season, and made his debut in the final game of that season, when he came on as a replacement against Edinburgh in the Pro12. [5] In the 2015–16 season, Kelleher played six times with all but one of these appearances being from the bench. He scored his first try for the side against Zebre on 12 February 2016. [6] In May 2016, it was announced that Kelleher was leaving Leinster to join provincial rivals Connacht, [5] having turned down a senior contract. [7]

Connacht

Kelleher joined Connacht ahead of the 2016–17 season. He made his debut on the first day of the season, starting against Glasgow Warriors in the Pro12 on 3 September 2016. He scored his first try for Connacht on 30 September 2016 against Edinburgh. [6] Kelleher made his European debut on 15 October 2016, when he started against Toulouse in the Champions Cup. [8] He was playing regularly for Connacht until he tore his hamstring against Wasps in December 2016, which severely interrupted his season. [4] Kelleher ultimately made a total of 14 appearances in his debut season, scoring six tries. [6] [8]

Following his recovery from injury, Kelleher was able to play more regularly in his second season. He played 18 times between the Pro14 and the Challenge Cup, scoring three tries. [6] [8] In March 2018, it was announced that Kelleher had signed an extension to his Connacht deal. [9] He had his most successful season with the side in 2018–19 season, appearing 17 times in the Pro14 and scoring five tries. Kelleher also started four of the team's six group games in the Challenge Cup and the quarter-final against Sale Sharks. [8] In January 2019, it was announced that Kelleher would leave Connacht after three seasons with the province. [10] He made a total of 54 appearances in his time with the side, scoring 14 tries. [6] [8]

Return to Leinster

It was announced on 8 January 2019 that Kelleher would be re-joining Leinster ahead of the 2019–20 season. [11]

Ealing Trailfinders

On 28 May 2021, it was confirmed that Kelleher travelled to England to sign for Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship from the 2021-22 season. [12]

International career

Kellher has represented Ireland internationally in Sevens.[ citation needed ] He played for the under-18 side before he had represented Leinster at under-age level. [4] Kelleher later played for the Ireland under-20 side. He made nine appearances and scored three tries in his time with the team, featuring in both the 2014 Under-20 Six Nations and 2014 Junior World Championship. [13]

In May 2015, Kelleher was selected for an Ireland squad to play against the Barbarians. [14] He was named on the bench for the uncapped match, and played the last five minutes of the game after coming on as a late replacement for Collie O'Shea. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cannon (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

James Cannon is a rugby union player from England. He primarily plays as a lock. Cannon currently plays for English Championship side Ealing Trailfinders. He joined the side in April 2019. He has previously played for Connacht, Wasps and Northampton Saints, and has had loan spells with Bedford Blues and London Scottish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Muldoon (rugby union, born 1982)</span> Irish rugby union coach and player

John Muldoon is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the Lineout & Maul coach for Connacht.

Seán Cronin is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Leinster in the United Rugby Championship. He also played for the Ireland national rugby union team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrad Butler</span> Australian rugby union player

Jarrad Butler is an Australian professional rugby union player. He primarily plays as a flanker but also plays at number 8. Butler currently plays for and captains Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14. Before joining Connacht, Butler played in Super Rugby, first for the Reds and then for the Brumbies. While playing for the Brumbies, Butler also played for National Rugby Championship the Canberra Vikings, where he served as captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cooney (rugby union)</span> Irish rugby union player

John Cooney is an Irish rugby union player who plays scrum-half for Irish provincial side Ulster in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup, having previously played for Leinster and Connacht, and has eleven caps for Ireland. Since joining Ulster in 2017, he has been nominated for EPCR European Player of the Year once, been named in the Pro14 Dream Team four times, and been Ulster's player of the year twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Ronaldson</span> Rugby player

Craig Ronaldson is a rugby union player from Ireland. His primary position is at fly half, though he also plays as a centre. Ronaldson most recently played professionally for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, where he spent six seasons from 2013 to 2019.

Shane Patrick O'Leary is an Irish-born professional rugby union player who represents Canada at the international level. He primarily plays at fly-half, but has also played as a centre. O'Leary currently plays for Pro D2 side Rouen, and for the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby (MLR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finlay Bealham</span> Ireland international rugby union player

Finlay Harry Bealham is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Connacht. Born in Australia, he represents Ireland at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

David Johnston is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for English side Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship. He plays primarily as a fullback, but can also play at fly-half or centre.

Peter Robb is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He plays primarily as a centre, usually at inside centre for Ealing Trailfinders. Peter played for Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro14 and in the European Rugby Champions Cup from 2014-2022.

Conor Carey is an English-born Irish professional rugby union player. He primarily plays as a prop. Carey currently plays for English Premiership side Northampton Saints. He previously played for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, and before that played for Nottingham and Ealing Trailfinders in the English Championship. Raised in Belfast, Carey started his career playing under-age rugby with Ulster and represented Ireland internationally up to under-20 level.

Conor Oliver is an Irish rugby union player for United Rugby Championship side Connacht. He plays as a flanker and represents Garryowen in the All-Ireland League.

Jonny Murphy is a former professional rugby union player from Northern Ireland, who played hooker for Ulster (2015-17), Rotherham Titans (2017-18) and Connacht (2018-22).

Ciarán Frawley is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and represents Ireland at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rónan Kelleher</span> Irish rugby union player

Rónan Kelleher is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

David O'Connor is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Ulster. He plays primarily as a lock, but can also play in the back-row.

Jack Aungier is an Irish rugby union player who currently plays for Connacht Rugby. He plays as a prop.

The 2019–20 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's nineteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-fourth season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's second season in charge of the side.

Matt Cornish is an English rugby union player who plays for London Irish in the Premiership Rugby.

The 2022–23 season was Ulster Rugby's 29th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union. They competed in the United Rugby Championship, finishing second in the league table and going out in the quarter-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup going out in the round of 16. It was Dan McFarland's fifth season as head coach. Scrum-half John Cooney was leading scorer with 154 points. Hooker Tom Stewart was leading try scorer with 17, and won the URC Top Try Scorer and Next-Gen Player of the Season awards.

References

  1. ↑ "Leinster school attracting overseas interest over how they are producing so many Irish rugby stars". Irish Independent . 2 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Towering Leavy Michael's hero". Irish Independent . 19 March 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Power and the glory goes to Blackrock". Irish Times . 18 March 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "'We just take each week as it comes and that's important'". Irish Independent . 3 November 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Cian Kelleher to leave Leinster Rugby". Leinster Rugby . 3 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Player Profile: Cian Kelleher". Pro14 .
  7. ↑ "Cian Kelleher turns down Leinster contract to join Connacht". Irish Times . 3 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Player Archive: Cian Kelleher". European Professional Club Rugby . Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "Connacht quartet sign contract extensions". RTÉ Sport . 21 March 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Connacht confirm Kelleher departure amid reports of Leinster return". The42 . 8 January 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "Connacht winger Cian Kelleher will return to Leinster next season". Irish Times. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Leinster's Cian Kelleher signs for Ealing Trailfinders". Rugby Pass. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Ireland U20 Squad Profiles: Cian Kelleher". Irish Rugby . Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "New faces in Ireland squad for Barbarians clash". RTÉ Sport . 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Ireland pipped by Barbarians at Thomond Park". RTÉ Sport . 28 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.