Cormac Izuchukwu

Last updated

Cormac Izuchukwu
Date of birth (2000-01-28) 28 January 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth London, England
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight118 kg (18.6 st; 260 lb)
School Roscrea College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
– Kelso RFC ()
2022-2024 Ballynahinch 8 (10)
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2020– Ulster 37 (30)
Correct as of 17 January 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022-2024 Emerging Ireland 3 (5)
2024– Ireland 1 (0)
Correct as of 24 November 2024
National sevens team
YearsTeamComps
2019 Ireland 7s 2

Cormac Izuchukwu (born 28 January 2000) is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.

Contents

He was born in London to an Irish mother and Nigerian father. He moved to County Offaly when he was 7 where he and his brother and sister were raised by their mother. [1] He started playing rugby with Tullamore RFC in Offaly, before going to Roscrea College, [2] where he played for the first XV in the Leinster Schools Cup quarter-finals. [1] He was offered an opportunity to try out for Connacht at under-19 level, but twisted his ankle and was unable to attend. He signed up to play for Kelso RFC, Scotland as an 18 year old, which included training with Newcastle Falcons. [3]

He joined the Ulster academy ahead of the 2020–21 season, [4] and made his Ulster debut coming in the 63rd minute of 21―7 victory over Ospreys on 26 February 2021. [5] He played in the subsequent games against Glasgow Warriors and Leinster when he received a yellow card. [6]

He signed a two-year contract with the province in April 2021. [7] He was selected for the Emerging Ireland squad for the Toyota Challenge in South Africa in September 2022. [8] He was a squad player for Ulster under Dan McFarland, but became a regular starter in the back row in the second half of the 2023–24 season under new head coach Richie Murphy, [9]

International

A highlights video came to the attention of Anthony Eddy at the IRFU, who signed him up for Ireland Sevens. [4] He represented Ireland at two sevens competitions in 2019. [10] [11]

His form saw him called up to the Ireland squad for their two-match 2024 summer tour of South Africa. [12] He went on to make his debut in a 52-17 win against Fiji scoring a try before it was disallowed for a forward pass in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. [13] [14]

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The 2019–20 season was Ulster's 26th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's second season as head coach. Lock Iain Henderson was named captain in place of retired hooker Rory Best. They competed in the Pro14 and the European Rugby Champions Cup. Both competitions were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, he later stages being played in August, September and October 2020. In the Pro14, Ulster finished second in Conference A, making the playoffs and qualifying for next season's Champions Cup. They beat Edinburgh in the semi-final, but lost to Leinster in the final. They finished second in Pool 3 in the Champions Cup, qualifying for the quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Toulouse.

The 2018–19 season was Ulster's 25th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's first season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the Pro14, making the semi-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals.

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 and the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Dan McFarland's fifth season as head coach.

The 2024–25 season will be Ulster Rugby's 31st season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Richie Murphy's first full season as head coach..

References

  1. 1 2 "'That's all I knew, the area I lived in wasn't the most affluent area'". www.msn.com. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy squad for 2020/21 season is named". Ulster Rugby. 12 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "'Patience' vital for Ireland debutant Izuchukwu". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  4. 1 2 John O'Sullivan, "Cormac Izuchukwu ready to take a giant step with Ulster", The Irish Times, 19 June 2020
  5. ↑ "Ulster overcome Ospreys but miss out on bonus point". the42. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ulster v Leinster - Rugby Union". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Adam McKendry, "Academy lock Izuchukwu agrees upgraded two-year deal as Roberts signs first pro contract with Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 16 April 2021
  8. ↑ "Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Toyota Challenge In Bloemfontein", Irish Rugby, 14 September 2022
  9. ↑ Rory Keane, "Ulster’s breakout flanker Izuchukwu storms into Ireland mix", Extra.ie, 6 June 2024
  10. ↑ "Ulster flyer Sexton in men's squad as Ireland 7s sides head for Spain". The42. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Izuchukwu takes the road less travelled on his rugby journey". Ulster Rugby. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ireland Squad Update", Irish Rugby, 8 July 2024
  13. ↑ Fanning, Brendan. "Ireland overwhelm Fiji as Prendergast gives Farrell a glimpse of bright future". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Cave expects Izuchukwu to shine for Ireland in series". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2024.


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