David Wallace (rugby union)

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David Wallace
Birth nameDavid Peter Wallace
Date of birth (1976-07-08) 8 July 1976 (age 47)
Place of birth Limerick, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight105 kg (16.5 st; 231 lb)
School Crescent College
Notable relative(s)
SpouseAileen Wallace
Children3
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Garryowen ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1997–2012 Munster 203 (205)
Correct as of 9 April 2012
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2000–2011 Ireland 72 (60)
2001, 2009 British & Irish Lions 3 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2011

David Peter Wallace (born 8 July 1976) is an Irish retired rugby union player, who played for Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He normally played as an openside flanker, but could also play blindside flanker and number 8.

Contents

Early life

Wallace grew up in Limerick on Ennis Road, and later lived in Cork. He was educated at Crescent College

Munster

Wallace made his Munster debut against Connacht in August 1997. [1] He made his European debut against Harlequins in September 1997 in the 1997–98 Heineken Cup. [2]

Wallace started for Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup Final. He scored his side's only try but opponents Northampton Saints eventually won 9–8. [3] Wallace again started for Munster during the 2002 Heineken Cup Final against Leicester Tigers. Once again, Munster lost narrowly, being defeated 15–9. [4]

Injury ruled Wallace out of much of the 2002–03 Celtic League, meaning he missed Munster's victory against Neath that won the league.

His first taste of silverware with Munster came against Scarlets in the Celtic Cup Final in May 2005. [5]

Wallace scored the fourth try in Munster's win over Sale in the 2005–06 Heineken Cup to take the Irish province into a home quarter-final against USA Perpignan. [6] After defeating Perpignan in the quarter final, Munster beat arch-rivals Leinster 30–6 in the semi-final to reach their third Heineken Cup final. At the Millennium Stadium, Munster beat Biarritz Olympique 23–19 to win the 2006 Heineken Cup Final. This was Munster's, and Wallace's, first Heineken Cup Final victory. [7]

Munster, and Wallace, again secured Heineken Cup success when they beat Toulouse 16–13 in the 2008 Heineken Cup Final. [8]

Wallace was part of the Munster team that won the 2008–09 Magners League. [9]

In February 2011, Wallace extended his contract with Munster until the end of the 2011–12 season. [10]

Wallace became the sixth player to reach 200 caps for Munster against Leinster during the 2011 Magners League Grand Final, a game in which he won the Man of the Match award. [11]

Having returned to full training after the knee injury that ruled him out of the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Six Nations, Wallace was named in the Munster squad to travel to Aironi on 7 March 2012. [12] He made his comeback during the game, playing the last 20 minutes. [13] [14] Wallace continued his comeback by playing the first 40 minutes of Munster A's friendly against a Munster Development team on 16 March. [15] He was added to Munster's 2011–12 Heineken Cup squad in March 2012. [16] Wallace made his first appearance in the 2011–12 Heineken Cup season in the quarter-final against Ulster on 8 April 2012. This turned out to be Wallace's last game for Munster, as a recurrence of the knee injury suffered in August 2011 forced him to retire in May 2012. [17] [18]

Ireland

Wallace made his Ireland debut against Argentina on 3 June 2000. [19]

On 10 June 2000, Wallace was part of the Ireland team that recorded their largest win by beating the United States 83–3.

Three lengthy injury-enforced absences hindered Wallace's international development. He only played in five games for Ireland until returning to start in the Triple Crown victory over Scotland in the 2004 Six Nations Championship — scoring a vital try in the process. He started again in both Tests in 2004 against South Africa. He did not return again to the Irish side until the second Test against Japan in June 2005, where he scored his fourth international try.

His form for Munster saw him earn a recall to the Irish set-up in 2006. [20] He was present during the 2006 Six Nations Championship and the Summer Tour in June.

Wallace scored a try for Ireland in their 43–13 demolition of England in the 2007 Six Nations Championship, and his form saw him selected in Ireland's squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. He started all four of Ireland's pool games at the tournament.

Wallace was a member of the Irish Grand Slam winning side in 2009. [21]

Wallace kept his place in the Ireland team for the November Tests in 2009, and played a crucial role in the win over South Africa. He played in all 5 of Ireland's 2010 Six Nations Championship games and won the Man-of-the-Match award against Italy. Wallace was in outstanding form for Munster throughout the 2009/10 season, and was selected in Ireland's squad for the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. He played against New Zealand and came on as a substitute against the New Zealand Maori before returning home for the birth of his second child. He played against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina during Ireland's 2010 Autumn Tests, and became Ireland's most capped back-row player. Wallace played in all five of Ireland's 2011 Six Nations Championship games, including the 24–8 victory over England at Aviva Stadium that ended England's hopes of a Grand Slam.

Wallace was selected in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 World Cup warm-ups in August, and was also selected in the final 30-man squad. However, a knee injury sustained during Ireland's final warm-up game against England ruled Wallace out of the tournament in New Zealand. [22]

Following the injury, he was ruled out of action for six months, [23] which also ruled Wallace out of the 2012 Six Nations Championship. [24]

British & Irish Lions

Wallace toured Australia with the 2001 British & Irish Lions following in the footsteps of his brothers Richard and Paul. He played against NSW Country Districts, and scored a try against ACT Brumbies. [25]

On 21 April 2009, Wallace was named in the Lions' squad for the tour to South Africa. [26] He started the first [27] and second tests, [28] and came on as a substitute for the third. [29]

Retirement

Wallace announced his retirement from rugby on 3 May 2012, due to the knee injury he suffered in August 2011. Wallace had made a comeback from the injury, but a re-occurrence of the injury forced him to quit the game. [30]

Speaking at the announcement,

"Although it's disappointing that injury is forcing me to retire now, I take great comfort that I've had an unbelievably enjoyable career and I feel very lucky to have been involved in an era that has seen Munster and Ireland enjoy so much success. Professional rugby has exploded in popularity and changed beyond all recognition in this country since I began and I feel honored to have played witness to its massive improvement. I'd like to thank anyone who has helped me and had faith in me during my 15 year professional career including family, teammates, coaches, medics, friends and not least supporters. I will be looking to step away from rugby and explore a few different business opportunities while also looking forward to being able to spend more time with my wife Aileen and sons Andrew and Harvey." [31]

Since his retirement from rugby, Wallace has opened a sweet shop in Limerick. [32] In 2017 he joined Bank of Ireland as a Business Development Manager for the Munster region.

Statistics

International tries

TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Dublin Lansdowne Road 2003 RWC warm-up 16 August 2003Won
2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium 2003 RWC warm-up 6 September 2003Won
3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Dublin Lansdowne Road 2004 Six Nations 27 March 2005Won
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Tokyo Chichibunomiya Stadium 2005 Ireland Tour 19 June 2005Won
5Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Dublin Lansdowne Road 2006 Six Nations 26 February 2006Won
6Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Dublin Lansdowne Road 2006 November Tests 11 November 2006Won
7Flag of England.svg  England Dublin Croke Park 2007 Six Nations 24 February 2007Won
8Flag of France.svg  France Paris Stade de France 2008 Six Nations 9 February 2008Lost
9Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Dublin Croke Park 2008 Six Nations 23 February 2008Won
10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Limerick Thomond Park 2008 November Tests 8 November 2008Won
11Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Rome Stadio Flaminio 2009 Six Nations 15 February 2009Won
12Flag of France.svg  France Paris Stade de France 2010 Six Nations 13 February 2010Lost

International analysis by opposition

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawnTriesPoints % Won
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 42200050
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 31110033.33
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 110015100
Flag of England.svg  England 96301566.67
Flag of France.svg  France 927021022.22
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 110000100
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 880015100
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 110015100
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 110000100
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 7070000
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 110000100
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 110000100
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1082031580
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa*83501537.5
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 110000100
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 110000100
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 972021077.78
Total7545291126060

Correct as of 5 July 2017 [33] * indicates inclusion of caps for British & Irish Lions

Honours

Munster

Ireland

British & Irish Lions

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