Ronan Michael

Ronan Michael

Personal information
Full name	Ronan Michael
Born	(2000-07-03) 3 July 2000 (age 24) Balbriggan, Ireland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)
Weight	15 st 10 lb (100 kg)
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 201?–20 Clontarf F.C.
Rugby league
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2020–22 Huddersfield Giants 1 0 0 0 0 2021(loan) → Whitehaven 4 0 0 0 0 2021(loan) → Swinton Lions 11 1 0 0 4 2022(loan) → York City Knights 19 3 0 0 12 2023– York Knights 65 5 0 0 20 2025 Bradford Bulls 0 0 0 0 0 Total 100 9 0 0 36 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2018– Ireland 6 0 0 0 0
Source: [1] As of 29 August 2024

Ronan Michael (born 3 July 2000) is an Irish professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the York Knights in the Championship and Ireland at international level.

He previously played for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League, and spent time on loan from Huddersfield at Whitehaven, York and the Swinton Lions.

Background

Born in Balbriggan to a Canadian-Irish mother and an Antiguan father, Michael grew up playing rugby union. ^{[2] [3]}

He began playing rugby league in 2017 for Longhorns RL and was selected to play for Ireland in 2018 and 2019. ^[4]

Playing career

Huddersfield Giants

Michael signed an academy contract with the Huddersfield Giants for the 2019 season. ^[5]

Michael moved to Australia in January 2020 to play for the Canberra Raiders in their Jersey Flegg Cup team (under-20s). He remained contracted to Huddersfield for 2021. ^[6] He did not play any competition matches for Canberra as the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[7] He returned home in March 2020. ^[8]

Michael was named to make his Super League debut for the Huddersfield Giants against the Wigan Warriors in round 20 of the 2020 Super League season. ^{[9] [10]} He was the first Irish-born player to play in the Super League since Brian Carney in 2009. ^[8]

Whitehaven (loan)

On 29 April 2021 it was reported that he had signed for Whitehaven in the RFL Championship on loan. ^[11]

Swinton Lions (loan)

On 27 May 2021 it was reported that he had signed for Swinton Lions in the RFL Championship on a short-term loan. ^[12] After the initial short-term loan had ended, it was later reported on 22 July 2021 that he had returned to Swinton for the remainder of the 2021 season.

York RLFC

On 3 October 2022 it was reported that he had signed for York RLFC on a two-year deal after having spent the previous season on loan with the club. ^[13]

Bradford Bulls

On 29 August 2024 it was reported that Michael had signed for Bradford Bulls on a two-year deal from the start of the 2025 season. ^[14]

References

1. "Ronan Michael - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
2. "How the West Indies could line-up if their rugby league team returned". Love Rugby League. 10 January 2023.
3. Watterson, Johnny (7 May 2021). "Ronan Michael revelling in his sporting life after landing in Super League". Irish Times. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
4. Darbyshire, Drew (5 October 2020). "Ireland international Ronan Michael on his wish to see a professional team in Dublin". Love Rugby League.
5. "From the Leaving Cert to the Huddersfield Giants - Ronan Michael's story". Off The Ball Sports. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
6. "Michael takes NRL step". giantsrl.com. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
7. Walker, Gareth (17 March 2021). "The remarkable rugby league story of Ireland international Ronan Michael". Mirror. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
8. Findlater, Stephen (24 November 2020). "From washing windows to a Super League debut: How Ronan Michael became a Giant". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
9. Wood, Mike (5 November 2020). "Ronan Michael set to be first native-Irish Super League player in over a decade". Lad Bible.
10. "Irish star Ronan Michael set to make Super League debut on Friday". Love Rugby League. 5 November 2020.
11. "Super League star joins Whitehaven on-loan". Serious About RL. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
12. "GIANT RONAN JOINS THE LIONS". Swinton Lions RLFC. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
13. "Ireland prop Ronan Michael makes permanent move to Championship". Love Rugby League. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
14. "Bradford Bulls sign Irish ace from York in O'Carroll reunion". Telegraph & Argus. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.

External links

• Euro Rugby League u19s profile
• Ireland profile