David Shanahan (rugby union)

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David Shanahan
Birth nameDavid Shanahan
Date of birth (1993-06-20) 20 June 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight77 kg (12 st 2 lb)
School Belvedere College
University Queen's University Belfast
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Ulster
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Ballymena ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013– Ulster 92 (70)
Correct as of 26 April 2024

David Shanahan (born 20 June 1993) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays scrum-half for Ulster.

He attended Belvedere College in Dublin, [1] and played for Ireland at U18, U19 and U20 level, but did not win a place in the Leinster academy. Ulster's then forwards coach Allen Clarke, who had coached him at under-age international level, persuaded him to join Ulster's academy, and he was assigned to club side Ballymena [2] while studying at Queen's University Belfast. [3]

He made his debut for Ulster while still in the academy in 2013, [4] and his first start in 2017, in place of the injured Ruan Pienaar. [5] Under coach Dan McFarland, he has mainly acted as backup to John Cooney. [6]

Ulster describe him as "a livewire scrum-half known for his speed, excellent support lines, and try-scoring ability". [7] Out-half Ian Madigan calls him "Ulster's unsung hero". [8]

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References

  1. ↑ Des Berry, "Ex-Belvedere scrum-half Shanahan to make first start", Irish Independent, 14 January 2017
  2. ↑ Ciaran Donaghy, "Shanahan making good progress to maintain his position on radar", Belfast Newsletter, 25 September 2014
  3. ↑ Dave Shanahan profile at RTÉ Sport
  4. ↑ "Ulster Rugby squad: Injured Nick Williams and Ian Porter ruled out of Edinburgh match", Belfast Telegraph, 22 November 2013
  5. ↑ Jonathan Bradley, "Youngster Shanahan handed his first start in win or bust clash", Belfast Telegraph, 14 January 2017
  6. ↑ "'I have eight minutes, I'd better not screw up': Shanahan powering through pivotal season", The42, 22 March 2019
  7. ↑ "Shanahan, Postlethwaite and Moxham commit to Ulster as Moore signs on", Ulster.Rugby, 1 February 2022
  8. ↑ Jonathan Bradley, "Flashbacks, free weekends and fans - Five talking points from Ulster's friendly defeat to Saracens", Belfast Telegraph, 4 September 2021


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