Gus McCarthy

Gus McCarthy
Date of birth (2003-07-23) 23 July 2003 (age 21)[1]
Place of birthRanelagh, Dublin
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Weight107 kg (236 lb)
SchoolBlackrock College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Leinster
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024- Leinster 6 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023 Ireland U20 10 (20)
2024– Ireland 2 (10)

Gus McCarthy (born 23 July 2003) is an Irish rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for Leinster Rugby.

Early life

McCarthy was born on Rugby Road in Ranelagh, but his family moved to Blackrock, Dublin shortly after he was born. He played a number of sports growing up, including golf in Elm Park, mini rugby in Old Belvedere, Gaelic Football with Kilmacud Crokes and tennis in Blackrock Bowling & Tennis club. He attended Blackrock College and captained their rugby side to the Leinster Schools Cup in 2022. McCarthy has two sisters and a brother. [3][4][5]

Club career

Gus made his debut for Leinster Rugby in April 2024 away in South Africa against Stormers.[6] He made his first start for the club in the United Rugby Championship against Edinburgh in September 2024.[7] The young hooker became a regular starter for the club at the start of the 2024-25 season.[8]

International career

He captained the Ireland U20 side to the 2023 U20 Six Nations grand slam. That same year he captained the Ireland U20 side to final of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, where the team placed second overall. The following year he toured with the Emerging Ireland squad.[9]

In October 2024 he was called up to the senior Ireland squad as a training panellist.[10] In November 2024, he made his debut in a 52-17 win against Fiji scoring a try in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.[11] The following week, he scored for the first time off the bench with a try in 22-19 win over Australia on the 150th anniversary of the IRFU.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Gus McCarthy". Its Rugby. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Gus McCarthy". All Rugby. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ Healy, Martin (23 October 2024). "Who is Gus McCarthy? Meeting the hooker who's burst onto the scene for Ireland". Extra.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Gus McCarthy". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. ^ O'Sullivan, John (3 February 2023). "Gus McCarthy and champions Ireland looking for a positive start to new campaign". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. ^ Kelly, David (26 April 2024). "Gus McCarthy set for debut as Leinster give young guns a chance against Stormers". Independent.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Gus McCarthy makes first start for Leinster in URC opener". BBC Sport. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  8. ^ "'It would be brilliant if he gets the opportunity' - Nienaber backs McCarthy for Ireland". the42. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  9. ^ Holland, Johnny (22 Oct 2024). "Gus McCarthy set to capitalise on Ireland's hooker injuries". RTE. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Fanning, Brendan. "Ireland overwhelm Fiji as Prendergast gives Farrell a glimpse of bright future". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  12. ^ Gault, Matt. "Farrell signs off with win as Ireland edge past Wallabies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  13. ^ O'Reilly, Peter (30 November 2024). "Incredible yet unheralded Gus McCarthy comes to sloppy Ireland's rescue". The Times. Retrieved 3 December 2024.