 |
| Full name | Zach Kasule Kibirige | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 October 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Yarm School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zach Kibirige (born 28 October 1994) [1] is an English professional rugby union player.
Born in Middlesbrough, Kibirige grew up as the youngest of five children in Yarm. Zach attended Yarm School [2] in Yarm, Teesside, where he gained 3 A's at A Level. [3] He is currently reading Psychology at the Open University.
Kibirige is an ambassador for the Dallaglio Foundation [4] and is involved in the Falcons Community Foundation. [5]
Kibirige is the son of Dr Mohammed Kibirige, a retired consultant paediatrician who worked at James Cook University Hospital. Dr Kibirige set up the charity ABC – Aids-Free Birthright for Children [6] – to use transmission interrupting drugs in pregnant women with HIV. The project has had success in Uganda since 2008, with 1,007 children now born HIV-free to mothers with the virus. [7]
On 9 August 2016 Kibirige was cleared by a jury, of charges of rape, by a unanimous verdict at Newcastle Crown Court. [8] Following the verdict Newcastle Falcons released the following statement:
"Newcastle Falcons have welcomed the not-guilty verdict in the trial of Zach Kibirige. The club have been aware of the allegations hanging over Zach since his initial arrest (he faced charges of sexual assault). This has been an extremely stressful time for Zach, and his hugely promising rugby career has effectively been put on hold during this very difficult period. The club are satisfied that their faith in Zach has been borne out by the verdict in his trial. Zach remains an important member of the club’s playing staff and is available for all rugby and non-rugby-related duties. Newcastle Falcons will be making no further comment on this matter". [9]
Kibirige began his career playing junior rugby with his local club Darlington RFC and at Yarm school.
Kibirige then joined Newcastle Falcons at age 12, [10] and made his senior debut for the club at the age of 17, where he is recognised for his speed and attacking prowess. [11] In December 2012, Zach signed his first professional contract with Newcastle Falcons, at age 18. [12]
International Career: Kibirige represented his country at Under 17, 18 and 20's level. [13] In summer 2015, Kibirige was called up to the England Sevens side for the Rugby European Sevens Grand Prix Series event in Lyon, France. [14]
Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team that play in Premiership Rugby, England's highest division of rugby union.
Wasps Rugby Football Club was a professional rugby union team. They last played in Premiership Rugby, the top division of English rugby, until being suspended on 12 October 2022. On 17 October 2022, the club entered administration, resulting in relegation from the league and all staff being made redundant. They exited administration on 16 December 2022.
Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio, known as Lawrence Dallaglio, is an English retired rugby union player, former captain of England, and 2016 inductee of the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
Christopher Robert Andrew is a former English rugby union player and was, until April 2016, Professional Rugby Director at the RFU.
George Wilson "Doddie" Weir was a Scottish rugby union player who played as a lock. He made 61 international appearances for the Scotland national team and represented the British & Irish Lions.
Andrew James Goode is a sports pundit and retired rugby union player. Goode had an 18-year professional career playing over 400 games and scoring over 4,000 points. He played professionally in England, France and South Africa featuring for Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Worcester Warriors, Wasps and Newcastle Falcons in England's Premiership Rugby, CA Brive in France's Top 14 and for Super Rugby's Sharks in South Africa. Goode represented England 17 times between 2005 and 2009 scoring 107 points.
Daniel Jonathan Grewcock MBE is an English former rugby union player who played as a lock. He played for Coventry, Saracens and Bath. He won 69 caps for England and five for the British & Irish Lions.
Tobias Gerald Albert Cecil Lieven Flood is an English rugby union coach and former player. He is currently kicking and skills coach at Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby. During his playing career his position was fly half or inside centre. He played over 300 games in his club career across his three professional clubs, Newcastle Falcons, Toulouse and Leicester Tigers. He played 60 international matches for England between 2006 and 2014.
Yarm School is a co-educational independent day school in Yarm, North Yorkshire in the North East of England. The school accepts pupils aged 3–18 years old and has a Nursery Pre-Prep, Preparatory School, Senior School and Sixth Form. The school was founded in 1978 and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
Dominic Waldouck is an English rugby union coach and former player. His playing position was centre.
Lee Smith is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal-kicking centre, wing or fullback for the Bradford Bulls in Betfred League 1.
Scott MacLeod is a retired Scottish rugby union footballer. He last played as a lock for Newcastle Falcons. He is currently still an active part of that club, in a coaching role. Having retired from playing at the end of the 2016–16 season.
Alex Crockett is a former English rugby union player, who played at centre.
Filipo Levi is the former International Rugby Captain for Manu Samoa and has captained teams from a local and international stage since 2000 until 2013. Filipo experience and knowledge is understanding business leaders unique challenges from a local to international context. He is passionate in helping leaders build strong resilient teams and equipping, empowering people to overcome challenges.
Andrew Mark Fenby is a Welsh former rugby union footballer who played as a fullback or on the wing. Fenby's professional career started relatively late, as he earned his first professional contract with Newcastle Falcons at the age of 24. After a brief cameo for the Falcons at the end of the 2008–09 season, he returned to Wales to sign for the Scarlets. The emergence of fellow wing George North on the international scene gave Fenby the opportunity to play regularly for the Scarlets during the Autumn internationals and the Six Nations, before he finally nailed down the left wing position during the 2012–13 season. A record of 14 tries in 28 appearances that season resulted in a transfer to London Irish in 2013. After initially retiring from professional rugby at the end of the 2015–16 season, he briefly returned to the sport in October 2016, signing a three-month contract with Saracens.
Luther Burrell is an English professional rugby union footballer who last played as a centre for the Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby.
John Hardie is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played most recently for Newcastle Falcons. Hardie predominantly played as an open side flanker. He represented Scotland internationally between 2015 and 2022.
Jon Welsh is a Scottish international rugby union player, most recently with Newcastle Falcons. He was previously at Glasgow Warriors. Welsh is a former junior boxing champion, in the end choosing to play rugby professionally.
George Patrick McGuigan is an English rugby union player who plays for Gloucester in Premiership Rugby. His position is Hooker and has represented England Saxons as well as Ireland U18s, U20s on several occasions. Between 2016–2018 he played 35 times for Leicester Tigers.
Sonatane Takulua is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Pro D2 club Mont-de-Marsan and captains the Tonga national team.