Sam Prendergast

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Sam Prendergast
Date of birth (2003-02-12) 12 February 2003 (age 22) [1]
Place of birth Kildare, Ireland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight91 kg (14.3 st; 201 lb)
School Newbridge College
University TUD
Notable relative(s) Cian Prendergast (brother)
Rugby union career
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022 - Leinster 34 (214)
Correct as of 31 August 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022 - 2023 Ireland U20 14 (142)
2024 - Ireland 9 (73)
Correct as of 31 August 2025

Sam Prendergast (born 12 February 2003) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Leinster Rugby and for the Ireland national rugby union team. [2]

Contents

Early life

Prendergast attended Newbridge College in Newbridge, County Kildare where he played as a scrum-half before he had a growth spurt. He played in 2020 as the school secured a place in the Leinster Senior Schools Cup final against Clongowes Wood. However, the final was never played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] He went on to study marketing at Technological University Dublin. [4]

Club career

Underage

Prendergast started his rugby at Cill Dara RFC youths and played his club rugby at Newbridge RFC and Lansdowne FC and joined the Leinster Rugby academy in 2022. [5]

Senior

2022-23

Prendergast was selected for the Leinster first team in the United Rugby Championship against the Lions on Saturday April 15, 2023. [6] He was awarded player of the match for his debut performance which involved successfully kicking six out of seven attempts including a late penalty with the scores tied to secure the win for his side. [7] On the second leg of Leinster's South African tour, Prendergast scored one conversion as Leinster lost 62-7 to the Bulls. [8]

2023-24

In May 2024, discussions took place for a move to Connacht on loan, where he would have the opportunity to play alongside his brother at club level and provide injury cover for JJ Hanrahan. [9] Ultimately, he did not take up the opportunity. [10]

2024-25

On 8 December 2024, he scored two tries and five conversions in the opening round of the 2024–25 Champions Cup as Leinster went to beat Bristol Bears 35–12 at Ashton Gate. [11] The following week he won man of the match in the opening home game of the campaign beating Clermont Auvergne 15–7. [12]

Prendergast scored 10 points (2c, 2p) in the 2025 URC Grand Final. He won his first senior medal as Leinster defeated the Bulls 32-7 in Croke Park. [13]

2025-26

International career

Under-20 team

Prendergast kicked a late long-distance penalty to clinch a series victory for Ireland under-20s over England over-20s in July 2022. [14] He kicked another late penalty in February 2023 as Ireland under-20s beat France under-20s in the 2023 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [15] He was singled out for praise for his performances during the tournament. [16] Praise has also come from former Ireland international Andrew Trimble, [17] former New Zealand international Sonny Bill Williams, [18] and he was identified by BBC Sport as one of the stars of the 2023 under-20 Six Nations tournament. [19] He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship held in South Africa in June and July 2023. [20]

Emerging Ireland

Prendergast was picked in an Emerging Ireland squad in October 2024 to play three test matches in the 2024 Toyota Challenge. He started all three matches against the Pumas, the Cheetahs and the Western Force.

Men's team

Prendergast was selected for the 2024 Six Nations squad [21] as a training panellist, alongside Munster players Oli Jager and Thomas Ahern. The three did not participate in any test matches during the 2024 Six Nations Championship, however they were included in pre-tournament training camps.

2024-25

He was called up to the senior Ireland squad for the 2024 Autumn internationals. [22] He made his senior debut as a second-half replacement for Ireland's match against Argentina on 15 November 2024. [23] He was named in the starting XV for his first senior international start for Irelands match against Fiji on 23 November 2024. [24] During his first international start, a 52–17 win, he was sin binned for a high tackle before scoring five conversions and having the opportunity to play alongside his brother for the first time at international level as he came off the bench. [25]

On 1 February 2025, he made his tournament debut in the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations in a 27–22 win over England. [26] In the following round he won man of the match during a 32–18 away victory over Scotland. [27] Following this performance he won player of the round during a fan vote conducted by the tournament organisers. [28] Prendergast contributed 17 points (1c, 5p) in the 27-18 round 3 win versus Wales. This win ensured Ireland won the Triple Crown. [29] Ireland's hopes of a Grand Slam were ended in Round 4 as a result of a 42-27 loss to France in the Aviva Stadium. Prendergast scored 12 points (3c, 2p) in the losing effort. [30] In the final round 22-17 win versus Italy, Prendergast came on as a second half substitute. [31]

Prendergast started against Georgia during Ireland's summer tests. In a 34-5 win, he scored 14 points (4c, 2p). [32]

Statistics

Club summary

YearTeamPlayedStartSubTriesConsPensDropPointsYelRed
2022–23 Leinster 22005201600
2023–24 Leinster 16412118104400
2024–25 Leinster 1615154513015400
2025–26 Leinster 0000000000
Career34211366816021400

as of 17 June 2025

International analysis by opposition

OppositionPlayedWinLossDrawTriesConsPensDrop GoalsPointsWin %
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 110000000100%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 110001105100%
Flag of England.svg  England 110000103100%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 1100050010100%
Flag of France.svg  France 10100320120%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 1100042014100%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 110000000100%
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1100032012100%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1100015017100%
Career98100171307388.89%

as of 31 August 2025 [33]

Honours

Leinster
Ireland
Ireland Under 20's
Individual

Style of play

Gerry Thornley in The Irish Times compared Prendergast with Stephen Larkham due to his "tall, languid style and passing range". [35]

He says that he has been heavily influenced by Johnny Sexton as he had watched him for years and is now helping at the Ireland camp for the flyhalfs.

Personal life

He is the younger brother of Connacht Rugby and Ireland Rugby international Cian Prendergast. [36]

References

  1. ↑ "Sam Prendergast". Irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sam PRENDERGAST". All.Rugby. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ↑ O’Brien, Brenden (2 February 2023). "Sam Prendergast ready to take his shot with Ireland U20s". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Six Under-20 Grand Slam Winners Join Leinster Academy". Ireland Rugby. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "MEET THE ACADEMY – YEAR ONE 2022/23". Leinsterrugby.ie. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Tracey, Cian (14 April 2023). "Exciting Ireland U-20s Grand Slam winning out-half Sam Prendergast set for Leinster debut". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Stanley, Colman (15 April 2023). "Player Of The Match Sam Prendergast Wins It For Leinster At The Death". Balls.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "United Rugby Championship: Leinster unbeaten run ends with defeat by Bulls". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "Jacques Nienaber reveals Sam Prendergast in discussions with Connacht over loan move". Irish Indepdent. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  10. ↑ "Prendergast set to stay at Leinster". 42. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Champions Cup: Leinster outclass Bristol with ruthless second-half display - reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "Champions Cup: Harlequins v Stormers, La Rochelle v Bristol - radio commentaries". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "United Rugby Championship grand final: Leinster take tournament title after thrashing Bulls 32-7". skysports.com. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  14. ↑ O’Connor, Sean (2 February 2023). "'Six Nations will be a step up' – Sam Prendergast eyes winning start in Wales with Ireland U-20 side". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  15. ↑ Walsh, Denis (10 February 2023). "Ireland v France U20s: Late Sam Prendergast penalty seals victory in pulsating encounter". Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Sam Prendergast leads the Irish resurgence". Ultimate Rugby. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  17. ↑ Harte, Eoin (4 February 2023). "Andrew Trimble reserves high praise for Ireland U20s star Sam Prendergast". Punditarena. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "The talented brother of an Ireland international who is admired by Sonny Bill Williams". the42.ie. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  19. ↑ Telfer, Alastair (15 March 2023). "Under-20 Six Nations: Who are the stars of this year's tournament". BBC Sport . Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Ireland Squad Named For World Rugby U20 Championship". Irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Irish Rugby | Farrell Selects 34-Player Squad For Guinness Men's Six Nations" . Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  22. ↑ Raisey, Josh (22 October 2024). "Caelan Doris to lead Ireland as two uncapped rising stars make 35-man squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  23. ↑ "Andy Farrell explains Ireland selection of rookie Sam Prendergast". Rugby Pass. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  24. ↑ "McCarthy and Izuchukwu handed Ireland debuts in Fiji test". Sky Sports. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  25. ↑ "Ireland pick up big win against Fiji - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  26. ↑ Calvert, Lee. "Ireland 27-22 England: Six Nations 2025 – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  27. ↑ Gallan, Daniel. "Scotland 16-32 Ireland: Six Nations 2025 – live reaction". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  28. ↑ "Sam Prendergast named Player of the Round (R2)". Six Nations. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  29. ↑ "Grand Slam dream alive as Ireland survive Wales scare". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "Ireland Grand Slam hopes ended by rampant France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  31. ↑ "Dan Sheehan's hat-trick sees off Italy and allows Ireland to celebrate legends". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  32. ↑ "O'Brien double helps youthful Ireland beat Georgia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  33. ↑ "Sam Prendergast". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Prendergast Wins Inaugural BKT Rising Player Award". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  35. ↑ Thornley, Gerry (14 April 2023). "Gerry Thornley: Clear statement of faith in Sam Prendergast as he makes first Leinster start". Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  36. ↑ Mccarry, Patrick. ""Proud moment" - Cian Prendergast on little brother, Sam's Ireland U20 heroics". sportsjoe.ie. Retrieved 15 March 2023.

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