Birth name | Kieran Dominic Marmion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 11 February 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Barking, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb; 190 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Kirkham Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of Wales Institute Cardiff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Kieran Marmion (born 11 February 1992) is an Irish rugby union player who primarily plays as a scrum-half. Marmion currently plays for English side Bristol Bears.
Marmion came into Connacht's academy through the Irish Exiles program and plays his club rugby with Galway Corinthians. Marmion has played his international rugby for Ireland since under-age level making his full debut in 2014.
Marmion was born in Barking, England to an Irish father and English mother and was raised in Brecon, Wales. He is the son of former Saracens centre Mick Marmion. Marmion attended Christ College, Brecon, and Kirkham Grammar School where he was part of their successful rugby sevens team being a runner up at the Rosslyn Park Schools sevens. [2] [3] He was also a student at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. Marmion was involved in the Irish Exiles set-up from a young age, and represented the Exiles at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 levels. This involvement with the Exiles led to Marmion being called up for the Ireland Under-20 team, which in turn led to him being signed to the academy of Connacht, one of the Irish provincial teams, in 2011. [4]
Marmion came to Connacht from the IRFU Exiles system, which helps Irish-qualified players overseas to make their way into professional rugby in Ireland. [5] He made his Pro12 debut for Connacht on 1 September 2012 whilst still in the academy, starting against Cardiff Blues. [5] Marmion then made his Heineken Cup debut on 13 October 2012, starting against Zebre in Connacht's 10–19 win, their first ever away win in the competition. [6] Marmion signed a two-year contract with Connacht in November 2012. [7] He was named as Connacht's Player of the Month for October 2012. [8] In his first season with Connacht, Marmion started all 22 league games and all 6 Heineken Cup games. [9] [10]
Marmion scored his first try for Connacht on 28 September 2013, against Ospreys in the 2013–14 Pro12. Marmion again featured in all of Connacht's competitive games for the season, playing in the league and the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, with Pro12 matches against Benetton Treviso and Munster the only two games that he did not start in. Marmion signed a further contract extension with Connacht in November 2013, which will see him remain with the province until at least the summer of 2016. [5]
Despite being raised in Wales, Marmion represents Ireland at international level, his parents being Irish, and Marmion having come through the Exiles. Marmion was capped at various under-age levels, including playing for the Under-18 and Under-20 teams. [5]
Marmion made his debut for Ireland Under-20 on 10 June 2011, starting against England Under-20 in their opening 33–25 defeat of the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. [11] Marmion went on to start every game for Ireland U20 in the tournament. He also started for Ireland U20 in their historic 19–23 win against South Africa Under-20 on 4 June 2012, in the opening game of the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship. [12]
Marmion was named in the Ireland squad for the 2013 tour to North America on 19 May 2013. [13] In January 2014, Marmion was named, along with six other uncapped players, in Joe Schmidt's extended 44-man squad for the 2014 Six Nations Championship. [14] He came off the bench for Ireland Wolfhounds in their friendly against England Saxons on 25 January 2014. [15]
Marmion made his first appearance for the senior Ireland side during the 2014 end of season tests. He came on as a second-half replacement for Conor Murray against Argentina as Ireland won the game on a score of 29–17. [16]
Paul Jeremiah O'Connell is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. When he retired, he was Ireland's third most-capped player (108) and the eighteenth most-capped international player in rugby union history. During his career, O'Connell captained Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He is now the forwards coach for the Ireland national men's team.
John James Hayes is a retired Irish rugby union player who played in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup for Munster. He didn't start playing rugby until he was 18; prior to this he played with the local Cappamore GAA hurling club. It was his size that enabled him to overcome his late start to the sport. He continues to "follow GAA in Limerick very much and especially hurling".
Frank Murphy is a former professional rugby union player from Ireland who works as a referee for the Irish Rugby Football Union. He primarily played as a scrum-half. Originally from Cork, Murphy played for his native province of Munster before moving to the English side Leicester Tigers.
Donnacha Ryan is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. Ryan spent most of his career representing his native province Munster, spending 13 seasons at the club, before moving to French club Racing 92 in 2017, where he spent the final four seasons of his playing career before retiring and joining the coaching team at La Rochelle ahead of the 2021–22 season. He played primarily as a lock, but could also play as a flanker.
Denis Hurley is a former Irish rugby union player, who represented Munster and Ireland. He played as a fullback, wing or centre.
James Downey is an Irish former rugby union player. He played as a centre. In May 2016, Downey announced his retirement from rugby.
Damien Varley is a former Irish rugby union player who represented Munster and Ireland. He played as a hooker. Varley was forced to retire from rugby in February 2015, due to a foot injury.
Ian James T. Keatley is an Irish rugby union player. He plays primarily as a fly-half, but can also play as a centre or fullback.
John Muldoon is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the Lineout & Maul coach for Connacht.
Felix Jones is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He played primarily as a fullback, but could also play on the wing. In October 2015, Jones was forced to retire from rugby due to a neck injury.
Paul O'Donohoe is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays at scrum half. O'Donohoe last played professionally for Irish provincial side Connacht, and before that played in his native province of Leinster. O'Donohoe has also represented the Ireland U-20's team.
The Irish Exiles is a rugby union representative team featuring players selected from the Irish diaspora, many based in Great Britain. The team was established in 1989 by Tom Kiernan. It was officially recognised by the Irish Rugby Football Union and during the 1990s was effectively a fifth provincial team along with Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. Between 1992 and 1993 and 1995–96 the Irish Exiles entered the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. The Irish Exiles also acts as an academy system for players from the Irish diaspora who wish to play for the men's national team and other IRFU national teams including the women's national team, the men's sevens team and the women's sevens team.
Nathan White is a retired rugby union player from New Zealand, who played internationally for Ireland. He played as a prop, primarily at tighthead. White last played for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro12, and had previously played for Leinster, another province. Before moving to Ireland, he played Super Rugby for the Chiefs and provincial rugby for Waikato.
Quinn Roux is a rugby union player who plays for Bath in the Premiership Rugby and formerly the Ireland national team. Born in South Africa, he qualified for Ireland through residency, made his international debut in 2016 and has won 16 caps. In 2018 he became an Irish citizen. He primarily plays as a lock.
Dave McSharry is a former professional rugby union player from Ireland. He played primarily as a centre, usually at inside centre. McSharry played for Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro12 before he was forced to retire in 2016.
Robert Anthony Henshaw is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.
Andrew Browne is a rugby union player from Ireland. Browne is a versatile forward, able to play as a flanker or a lock. Browne most recently played professionally for Irish provincial side Connacht Rugby. His older brother Damian Browne is also a rugby player, and formerly played for Connacht and Leinster.
Denis Buckley is a rugby union player from Ireland. He predominantly plays as a loosehead prop. Buckley currently plays for Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro14. He plays his club rugby for Buccaneers.
Danny Qualter is a rugby union player from Athlone in Ireland. His primary position is as a lock, though he also plays across the back row. Qualter currently plays for Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro14, having been promoted from their academy in 2013.
Dave Heffernan is a rugby union player from Ireland. As of 2024, he plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14. Heffernan started his career playing as a flanker, before moving to the position of hooker. He plays his club rugby for Buccaneers. Heffernan has represented the Ireland U20 team.