Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Galway, Ireland | 1 March 1992||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Cistercian College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Lindenwood University Lasell University (MBA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Relatives | Darragh Leader (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Football career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CFL status: | Global | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player stats at CFL.ca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tadhg Leader (born 1 March 1992) is an Irish-born rugby union player and gridiron football placekicker.
He has also played for American professional rugby union club New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR). [1] Leader was born and raised in Ireland, but after living in the United States for several years, qualified to play for the United States national rugby union team. His primary position is at fly-half, though he has also played at inside center.
Born in Galway, Leader grew up in Castlegar, just outside the city. He is a past pupil of the Bish, one of the city's secondary schools, and the Cistercian College in Roscrea. Leader is the older brother of current Connacht player Darragh Leader. Greg, the eldest brother, played for the province at underage level. Their parents were also heavily involved in sport, with their mother, Breda, serving as secretary for Rowing Ireland and their father, Noel, having played for and served as president of the Galwegians rugby club, where Leader first played the sport. [2]
Leader graduated secondary school and signed for the Connacht academy in 2011. Later that year, Leader played an integral role in the Connacht under-20 grand slam winning team. [3] Leader was brought into the Connacht senior squad for the 2012–13 season. [4] Leader made multiple appearances for the Connacht Eagles in the British and Irish Cup. [5] After multiple injury setbacks Leader left Connacht and signed with Italian club Rugby Badia ASD.
Leader arrived in Italy to play with Rugby Badia ASD in Italy's Serie A rugby competition. [6] A few months into his time in Italy a shoulder injury forced him to return to Ireland for surgery. [7]
In 2015, whilst recovering from a shoulder reconstruction Leader received a rugby scholarship at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri to play for the school's college rugby side the Lindenwood Lions. During his time at Lindenwood, Leader pursued an undergraduate degree in sports management. Leader was selected to play in the Lindenwood team that represented the United States at the Red Bull World Uni 7's in Bath in England. [8] However, shortly after arriving, Leader was ruled ineligible to represent the university in intercollegiate matches due to his time spent as a professional player in Ireland and Italy. [9]
Leader linked up with local club the St. Louis Royals in 2016, whilst continuing his studies at Lindenwood. As captain-coach Leader led the Royals to a DIII national championship in 2017. [10] Leader was also named player's MVP of the Royals after the 2017 season.
In January 2018, Leader signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby. [11]
In April 2011, Leader was selected for the Ireland under-19 squad for their game against France. [12] Later that year in December 2011, Leader was selected as part of Mike Ruddock's squad for the Ireland under-20s in preparation for the 2012 under-20 Six Nations tournament. [13]
Having lived in the United States since 2015, under the World Rugby three-year residency rule, Leader became eligible in 2018 to play for the United States. Leader was called up to the U.S. squad for the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship. [14]
In 2020, Leader attempted to become an NFL placekicker. [15] [16] He joined The Spring League's Aviators for the 2021 season. [17] Following week 6 of the 2021 European League of Football season, Leader signed with the Wrocław Panthers. [18]
On February 23, 2022, Leader signed with the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. [19] [20] [21] However, he was released before the start of the regular season on June 5, 2022. [22]
Connacht Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. Connacht competes in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the IRFU Connacht Branch, which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union throughout the geographical Irish province of Connacht.
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 forwards coach for the Bristol Bears.
Eoin Griffin is a former professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily played as a centre, and played both outside and inside channels. Griffin last played for Connacht in the Pro14.
Bundee Aki is a professional rugby union player who plays for Connacht in the URC and the Ireland national team. Aki was born and grew up in New Zealand, of Samoan descent, and qualified for Ireland through residency. A centre, he has also played for New Zealand provincial team Counties Manukau and for the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
Robbie Henshaw is an Irish rugby union player. He plays primarily as a centre, although he can also play fullback. Henshaw currently plays for Irish provincial team Leinster in the United Rugby Championship, and internationally for Ireland.
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.
Peter Nelson from Dungannon is a rugby union player. He formerly played at the position of fullback for Ulster.
Darragh Leader is a retired rugby player from Ireland. His primary position is at fullback, though he has also played on the wing. Leader plays for Connacht in the Pro14, having come through Connacht's academy.
Jack Carty is a rugby union player from Ireland. His primary position is at fly-half. Having started out with his hometown club, Buccaneers, Carty currently plays for the team of his native province of Connacht in the United Rugby Championship, having come through the team's academy. He is Connacht's record points scorer in the Pro14, having overtaken Ian Keatley in March 2019. Carty is an Ireland international, having made his debut for the side against Italy in 2019.
Shane Patrick O'Leary is an Irish-born professional rugby union player, who represents Canada at international level. He primarily plays at fly-half, but has also played as a centre. O'Leary currently plays for Pro D2 side Rouen, having previously played for Nottingham, Ealing Trailfinders, Irish provincial side Connacht and Grenoble in France.
Finlay Bealham is an Australian-born Irish rugby union player. He primarily plays as a prop, and can play at both tighthead and loosehead. Bealham represents Ireland at international level, qualifying to play for them through his grandmother from Enniskillen in Northern Ireland. Bealham currently plays his club rugby for Irish provincial team Connacht Rugby in the URC league. Through his grandmother, Bealham is related to Northern Irish heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris.
Caolin Blade is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays as a scrum-half. Blade currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, having signed a senior contract ahead of the 2015–16 season.
The 2015–16 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's fifteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's twentieth season as a professional side. It was Pat Lam's third season in charge of the side. Connacht finished the season as league champions after defeating Leinster in the 2016 Pro12 Grand Final, the team's first trophy in its 131-year history.
Shane Delahunt is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays as a hooker. Delahunt currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14.
Rory Parata is an Australian-born Irish professional rugby union player. He primarily plays as a centre. As of 2021, Parata plays for English side Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship. He previously played for Irish provincial side Connacht, having come through the team's academy, and Zebre.
Tadhg Gerard Beirne is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for Munster in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. His primary playing position is lock, but can also play in the back-row.
The 2018–19 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's eighteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-third season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's first season in charge of the side.
Beibhinn Parsons is an Ireland women's rugby union international. She plays wing for Blackrock College RFC, Connacht and the Ireland women's national rugby union team. She made her senior international debut in 2018 aged 16, making her the youngest player, male or female, to play senior rugby for the Irish Rugby Football Union.