Cillian Gallagher

Last updated

Cillian Gallagher
Date of birth (1997-07-23) 23 July 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Sligo, Ireland
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
School Summerhill College
Height and weight correct as of 30 April 2018
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Back Row
Current team Connacht
Youth career
2010–2015 Sligo
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2015–2016 Sligo ()
2016–2020 Galway Corinthians ()
Correct as of 30 April 2018
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2017–2021 Connacht 15 (5)
Correct as of 5 June 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2015 Ireland U18 3 (0)
2016–2017 Ireland U20 10 (5)
Correct as of 30 April 2018

Cillian Gallagher (born 23 July 1997) is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays as a lock, but can also play in the back row. Gallagher currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, having come through the team's academy.

Contents

A student of Summerhill College in Sligo, Gallagher first played rugby for Sligo RFC in Strandhill. He played for the club through under-age level before joining Galway Corinthians.

Early life

Gallagher was born and raised in Sligo. He didn't play rugby until he was 13, instead playing soccer and Gaelic football. [1] Gallagher joined the Strandhill-based Sligo RFC when he was in secondary school, also playing basketball at this time. [2] It wasn't until under-18 level that he began to take rugby seriously as his primary sport. Gallagher attended Summerhill College in Sligo town, playing for the school rugby team. Despite it not being a traditional rugby school his squad reached the final of the Connacht Senior Cup in 2015, the first time Summerhill had reached that stage. They defeated local rivals Sligo Grammar in the semi-final, [1] but were ultimately beaten 19–18 in the final by Garbally College, with Gallagher scoring a try. [3] [4]

Connacht

Gallagher was involved with the youth setup of his native province, Connacht, from under-15 level. He earned a place in the team's sub-academy at the end of the 2014–15 season. [1] He became part of the full academy in the 2016–17 season. [5] After becoming part of the academy in Galway, Gallagher joined city-based club Galway Corinthians. [6]

While still in the academy, Gallagher made his senior debut for Connacht on 21 October 2017, coming off the bench against Worcester Warriors in the 2017–18 Challenge Cup. His first start came on 9 December 2017 in the same competition, this time against Brive. [7] [8] Gallagher made his Pro14 debut away to Munster on 21 January 2018. [9] In March 2018, it was announced that Gallagher had signed a senior deal with the province, becoming part of the first team squad for the following season. [10]

International

Gallagher has represented Ireland internationally at under-age level. He was selected for the Irish under-18 schools team in 2015 on the back of his performances for Summerhill College. He made two appearances for the side before travelling to the Rugby Europe under-18 tournament, where he was injured in the first game. [2]

Gallagher progressed to play for the Ireland under-20s the following year. He was named in Nigel Carolan's squad for the 2016 Under-20 Six Nations, [11] playing in all five games in the tournament and scoring a try on his debut against Wales. [12] In May 2016, Gallagher was named in the team's squad for the upcoming Junior World Cup. [13] He played in all three of the team's group games including a win over New Zealand, the first time an Irish international men's side had beaten their New Zealand counterparts. [14] Gallagher did not appear in the knockout stages, which saw Ireland reach the final, their best ever performance in the tournament. [12] [15]

Gallagher was one of only three players to return to the team for the following season, and was named in the squad for the 2017 Under-20 Six Nations. [16] He played in the first two games, [12] captaining the side against Italy. [17] Gallagher was injured during the Italy game however, and missed the remainder of the tournament. [18] The injury also ruled him out of the 2017 Junior World Cup. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connacht Schools Rugby Senior Cup</span> Schools rugby union competition in Ireland

The Connacht School's Rugby Senior Cup is an annual rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Connacht Rugby Branch of the IRFU.

The Connacht Schools Junior Challenge Cup is an under-age rugby union competition for schools affiliated to the Connacht Branch of the IRFU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eoin Griffin</span> Rugby player

Eoin Griffin is a former professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily played as a centre, and played both outside and inside channels. Griffin last played for Connacht in the Pro14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiernan O'Halloran</span> Rugby player

Tiernan O'Halloran is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays as a fullback or on the wing. O'Halloran currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14.

<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">Jack Carty (rugby union)</span> Irish rugby union player

Jack Carty is a rugby union player from Ireland. His primary position is at fly-half. Having started out with his hometown club, Buccaneers, Carty currently plays for the team of his native province of Connacht in the United Rugby Championship, having come through the team's academy. He is Connacht's record points scorer in the Pro14, having overtaken Ian Keatley in March 2019. Carty is an Ireland international, having made his debut for the side against Italy in 2019.

Cian Kelleher 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.

Rory Scholes is an Irish rugby union player. He plays primarily as a wing, but also covers fullback. Scholes last played for Brive. He has previously played for his native province of Ulster, Scottish side Edinburgh and another Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14.

Stephen Fitzgerald is an Irish former rugby union player, who played for his native province Munster and Connacht during his career. Fitzgerald played primarily as a fullback, but could also play on either wing, and represented Shannon in the All-Ireland League.

Seán O'Brien is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He plays as a lock and across the back row. O'Brien currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, after being promoted from the academy ahead of the 2015–16 season.

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.

Conor McKeon is a rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily played fly-half for most of his youth career, before changing to scrum-half at senior level. McKeon played professionally for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14 having come through the team's academy, and played his club rugby for Athlone-based side Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conán O'Donnell</span> Irish rugby union player

Conán F. O'Donnell is a rugby union player from Ireland. He plays as a prop.

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.

Gavin Mullin is an Irish rugby union player. He plays as a centre and represents UCD in the All-Ireland League. His father is former Ireland international Brendan Mullin.

Conor Fitzgerald is an Irish rugby union player for Connacht in the United Rugby Championship. He plays primarily as a fly-half, and represents Shannon in the All-Ireland League.

Conor Dean is an Irish rugby union player who is currently a member of the Connacht academy. He plays as a fly-half.

Conor Kenny is an Irish rugby union player who last played for Newcastle Falcons. He plays as a prop.

Seán French is an Irish rugby union player for English RFU Championship club Bedford Blues. He plays as a centre, wing or fullback.

Alex Kendellen is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Munster.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The future is bright: Cillian Gallagher (Sub academy)". Irish Independent . 22 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Hotshot: Connacht forward Cillian Gallagher". Rugby World . 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Keller the hero as Garbally take title Garbally College 19 Summerhill College 18 Connacht Schools Snr Cup final". Irish Independent . 17 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Masterful Simon Keller boots Garbally College to 45th title". Irish Examiner . 19 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Academy confirmed for 2016/17". Connacht Rugby . 18 July 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Club Focus: Blue bloods toiling to stay ahead of the game". Irish Independent . 16 September 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018. In our senior squad now, there are a lot of 21, 20 and even 19-year-olds being attracted to the club. Cillian Gallagher is one of the guys who phoned us to join us.
  7. ↑ "Connacht academy player Cillian Gallagher to make his first start". RTÉ Sport . 8 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Player Archive: Cillian Gallagher". European Professional Club Rugby . Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "Player Profile: Cillian Gallagher". Pro14 .
  10. ↑ "Gallagher, O'Donnell And Claffey Progress To Connacht Senior Contracts". Irish Rugby . 9 March 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ireland Under-20s Six Nations squad announced". Irish Times . 25 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 "Ireland U20 Squad Profiles: Cillian Gallagher". Irish Rugby . Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  13. ↑ "Ireland Squad Named For World Rugby U-20 Championship". Irish Rugby . 23 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Hail the heroes! U20s become first-ever Irish men's team to beat New Zealand". The42 . 11 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Ireland U-20s Roar Into World Final With Four-Try Win". Irish Rugby . 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Cillian Gallagher ready to hit highs again for Ireland U20s at Six Nations". Irish Examiner . 2 February 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Cillian Gallagher To Captain Ireland U20s Against Italy". Connacht Rugby . 8 February 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Double injury blow for U-20s as Gallagher and Kelly out". Irish Independent . 21 February 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Six new caps named in Ireland squad for this summer's U20 World Championships". The42 . 17 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
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.