Caelan Doris

Caelan Doris
Doris playing for Ireland against Italy during the 2023 Six Nations Championship
Date of birth (1998-04-02) 2 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birthBallina, Ireland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight111 kg (245 lb; 17 st 7 lb)
SchoolBlackrock College
UniversityUniversity College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker
Current team Leinster
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Leinster 86 (90)
Correct as of 27 October 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2018 Ireland U20 14 (15)
2020– Ireland 47 (40)
Correct as of 30 November 2024

Caelan Doris (born 2 April 1998) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

Early life

Doris was born in Lacken, County Mayo.[1] Doris' first involvement with rugby was with Ballina. He attended boarding school from the age of 12 onwards at Blackrock College in Dublin, where he was a member of the victorious Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup team in 2014[2] as well as captaining the 2016 side.[3] His father Chris had attended Blackrock College,[1] final year 1980, playing rugby at centre.[citation needed]

Doris gained a degree in psychology at University College Dublin.[4] He played two years on the Ireland Under-20 rugby team, the second as captain.[1]

Professional career

Leinster

After leaving school in 2016, Doris spent a year in the Leinster sub-academy before entering the academy in summer 2017. After a series of strong performances captaining the Ireland Under-20s, Doris was promoted two years early to Leinster's senior squad ahead of the 2018–19 season, after just one year in the academy, and having made his senior debut the previous season.[5] On 18 December 2023, the IRFU announced that Doris had been given a three-year 'central contract' paid by the union, extending his time at Leinster until July 2027.[6]

Ireland

Doris played for Ireland Under-20s in both 2017 and 2018, captaining them in the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. Despite a poor campaign from Ireland, he was one of the standout players of the tournament.[7] He has 14 Ireland under-20 caps despite being injured for the entire 2018 Six Nations Under 20 Championship.[8]

Doris received his first call up to the senior Ireland squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship,[9] and made his debut when he started at number 8 in Ireland's opening fixture against Scotland on 1 February 2020, though a concussion meant that his debut lasted only four minutes.[10] Doris missed the 2021 Six Nations and returned to play for Ireland in the summer and autumn internationals playing a starring role in Ireland wins against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina. Doris also scored his first tries for Ireland in the matches against New Zealand and Argentina. Doris was selected by his fellow players as the Irish men’s Players’ Player of the Year 2023 at the Rugby Players Ireland awards.[11]

On 11 February 2024, Doris captained the Ireland team for the first time in their game against Italy in the Six Nations Championship.[12][13] In October 2024, he was named as squad captain ahead of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.[14] In November 2024, he was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year award for 2024 and named at No.8 in the 2024 World Rugby Dream Team of the Year.[15]

Career statistics

List of international tries

Number Position Points Tries Result Opposition Venue Date Ref.
1 Flanker 5 1 Won  New Zealand Aviva Stadium 13 November 2021 [16]
2 Number 8 5 1 Won  Argentina Aviva Stadium 21 November 2021 [17]
3 Number 8 5 1 Won  Wales Millennium Stadium 4 February 2023 [18]
4–5 Flanker 10 2 Won  Italy Aviva Stadium 5 August 2023 [19]

as of 20 August 2023[20]

Honours

Individual
Leinster
Ireland

References

  1. ^ a b c "Who is Caelan Doris? Meet Ireland's newest rugby star". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. ^ Cummiskey, Gavin (16 March 2014). "Blackrock hold off sprited Clongowes in Senior Cup classic". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Nine tries shared out as Belvedere see off Blackrock in Leinster schools rugby classic". The 42. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ^ Ward, Shauna Bannon (16 September 2023). "Ireland rugby's Caelan Doris' career, day job and following dad's footsteps". RSVP Live. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Senior Players". Leinster Rugby. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Caelan Doris upgraded to Ireland central contract after signing three-year extension". The Irish Times. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  7. ^ Kinsella, Murray. "'He's definitely got a big future ahead of him' - Leinster excited about Doris". The42.ie. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Irish Rugby". Irishrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Six Nations: Johnny Sexton to captain Ireland as Andy Farrell's reign begins". BBC Sport. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Six Nations 2020: Ireland win 19-12 against wasteful Scotland". BBC Sport. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Caelan Doris named Irish Players' Player of the Year for 2023". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Captain's Run Press Conference With Caelan Doris". Irish Rugby. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Six Nations 2024: Stuart McCloskey starts as Caelan Doris captains Ireland against Italy". BBC Sport. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  14. ^ Gault, Matt. "Doris to captain Ireland in autumn internationals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  15. ^ Heagney, Liam. "Seven Springboks make World Rugby men's 15s dream team of the year". RugbyPass. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  16. ^ Morrow, Michael (13 November 2021). "Ireland 29-20 New Zealand: Brilliant Irish claim statement win over All Blacks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  17. ^ Morrow, Michael (21 November 2021). "Ireland 53-7 Argentina: Seven-try hosts secure autumn clean sweep". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  18. ^ Bray, Jonny (4 February 2023). "Ruthless Ireland Spoil Gatland's Comeback in Bonus-Point Win". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  19. ^ Hart, Ben (5 August 2023). "Doris' double sees Ireland overcome determined Italy". Autumn Nations Series. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Caelan (Sweetman-) Doris". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 3 June 2022.


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