| Birth name | Niall Smyth | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 July 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | New York City, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (18.6 st; 260 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Blackrock College | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Niall Smyth (born July 9, 2005) is an Irish rugby union player who operates as a tight‑head prop in the Leinster system. A former soccer standout in New York, he transitioned to rugby during his teenage years and was promoted to Leinster’s senior squad in 2025.
Smyth was born in New York City and grew up playing soccer, even marking Manchester United youth star Kobbie Mainoo in a state‑level match. Moving to Ireland and enrolling at Blackrock College led him to take up rugby. [1]
Smyth joined the Leinster Academy ahead of the 2024–25 season. [2] He signed his first senior contract in early 2025. [3] [ better source needed ] He featured for Leinster 'A' in the Interprovincial Championship but is yet to make his senior debut.
At 118 kg and 1.91 m tall, Smyth brings notable physicality to the loosehead position. Former Ireland prop Bernard Jackman described him as “the next Tadhg Furlong”. [4]