| Born | 1 October 1998 Cork, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (16 st; 220 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Presentation Brothers College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University College Cork | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Billy Scannell (cousin) Niall Scannell (cousin) Rory Scannell (cousin) Donal O'Sullivan (grandfather) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jack O'Sullivan (born 1 October 1998) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number eight for United Rugby Championship club Munster.
Born in Cork, O'Sullivan attended Presentation Brothers College, where he enjoyed a successful schools rugby career, winning the Schools Bowen Shield, [2] the Munster Schools Junior Cup in 2014, [3] and captaining the school to victory in the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup final in 2017, alongside future Munster teammates Seán French and Jonathan Wren. [4] Whilst still only in his fourth year, O'Sullivan featured for Ireland under-18 schools, and won representation for Munster at under-18 and under-19 level, as well as touring France with the Ireland under-19s squad in 2017. [2] He is the cousin of Munster players Niall and Rory Scannell, [5] and of Biarritz player Billy Scannell, and is studying finance at University College Cork. [6]
Following his exploits with Presentation Brothers College at school level, O'Sullivan joined the Munster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season, [7] and he made his debut for Munster A during the 2017–18 British and Irish Cup against English side Bedford Blues in December 2017. [2] After returning from a long-term knee injury sustained whilst on international duty with Ireland under-20s, O'Sullivan was selected in the Munster A squad for the Cara Cup, a tournament hosted in Weymouth, Massachusetts, [8] starting in the 38–19 win against New England Free Jacks on 6 April 2019. [9]
O'Sullivan made his senior competitive debut for Munster on 28 September 2019, featuring as a replacement in the provinces opening 2019–20 Pro14 fixture against Welsh side Dragons in Thomond Park, [10] and he made his first start for the province in their 28–12 win against Welsh side Ospreys on 25 October 2019. [11] O'Sullivan made his European debut for Munster in their final pool 4 fixture of the 2019–20 Champions Cup against Welsh side Ospreys on 19 January 2020. [12] He joined the Munster senior squad on a three-year contract ahead of the 2020–21 season. [13] In Munster's 29–10 win against Welsh side Scarlets during round 13 of the 2019–20 Pro14 on 29 February 2020, O'Sullivan scored his first try for the province, [14] and he won the John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year for his performances during the 2019–20 season. [15] O'Sullivan signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in January 2022. [16]
Selected in the Ireland under-20s for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, [17] O'Sullivan started against France, [18] Italy, [19] Wales, [20] Scotland, [21] and England, [22] scoring four tries and earning two Man-of-the-Match awards during the tournament. [6] O'Sullivan again won selection for the under-20s, this time for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, [23] but he suffered a knee injury just days after being selected, which ruled him out of the tournament. [24]
