James Culhane (rugby union)

James Culhane

Date of birth	(2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 21) [1]
Place of birth	Enniskerry, County Wicklow
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	110 kg (17 st; 240 lb)
School	Blackrock College
University	University College Dublin
Notable relative(s)	Paul Culhane (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back-row Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) DLSP FC () UCD RFC () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2022– Leinster 3 () Correct as of 20 April 2023 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2022- Ireland U20

James Culhane (born 22 October 2002) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a back-row for Ireland national under-20 rugby union team and Leinster Rugby.

Early life

Culhane started playing rugby for De La Salle Palmerston and also played for University College Dublin R.F.C. where he studies Engineering. He also represented Dublin for two years at association football in the Kennedy Cup. ^[2]

Career

He joined the Leinster academy ahead of the 2022-23 season. ^[3] On 28 January, 2023 he was included in the Leinster Rugby match day squad in the United Rugby Championship against Cardiff Rugby and made his first team debut off the bench. ^{[4] [5]} On May 7th 2024 he signed his first senior contract with Leinster Rugby. ^[6]

International career

He was a member of the 2022 Ireland U-20 Grand Slam winning side and was named player of the tournament, and won the man of the match awards against Wales and Italy. ^[7] He also represented Emerging Ireland in late 2022. ^[8]

Style of play

His form during the Ireland U-20 grand slam winning team led to the Irish Times describing his play by saying his “carrying has been outstanding; the lines of running and footwork through contact have bamboozled physically bigger men. ^[9]

Personal life

Culhane is the son of Paul Culhane, a former captain of Ireland U-21s and Irish Universities. ^[10] In April 2022 Culhane recovered from acute kidney failure and had to spend weeks in hospital, he said it came “from over-training and dehydration”. ^{[11] [12]}

References

1. "James Culhane". Pro 12 Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
2. "Six Under-20 Grand Slam Winners Join Leinster Academy". Irishrugby.ie. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
3. "Leinster confirm seven new Academy players". the42.ie. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
4. O'Connor, Ruaidhri (27 January 2023). "Will Connors to make Leinster return off bench as James Culhane and Aitzol King set for debuts". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
5. O'Brien, Brendan (28 January 2023). "Leinster breeze by Cardiff to extend unbeaten run". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
6. Rugby, Leinster (7 May 2024). "𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐞!". X. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
7. "Best Youngsters in Men's Irish Rugby Right Now". w-rugby.com. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
8. "19-year-old James Culhane impresses in Emerging Ireland back row". the42.ie. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
9. O'Sullivan, John (20 March 2022). "Grand Slam winners: Meet the Ireland U-20 squad". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
10. "MEET THE ACADEMY – YEAR ONE 2022/23". 8 July 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
11. Tracey, Cian (6 October 2022). "'My kidneys went into acute failure, I was in hospital for four weeks' - Emerging Ireland star on 'random' illness". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
12. Kinsella, Murray (6 October 2022). "Just months after acute kidney failure, Culhane shines for Emerging Ireland". The42.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.