Billy Scannell (born 16 September 1999) is an Irish rugby union player. He plays as a hooker.
Date of birth | 16 September 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Cork, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 96 kg (15.1 st; 212 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Presentation Brothers College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Niall Scannell (brother) Rory Scannell (brother) Jack O'Sullivan (cousin) Donal O'Sullivan (grandfather) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Early life
editBorn in Cork, Scannell is the younger brother of Munster players Niall and Rory and a cousin of Jack O'Sullivan. His grandfather is Donal O'Sullivan, who captained Cork to the 1956 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[1] Scannell first began playing rugby for Douglas RFC, but switched to Cork Constitution at under-12 level, where his older brothers were already on the books. He attended Presentation Brothers College, Cork and won a Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2017, in a side that was captained by his cousin Jack.[2] Scannell also captained the school's senior side, and started for Ireland under-18s in all three of their tests against Italy, England and Wales.[3]
Club career
editAfter finishing school in 2018, Scannell entered Munster's sub-academy and began playing in the amateur All-Ireland League with Limerick club Young Munster.[4]
Scannell was overlooked for promotion to Munster's academy, so instead, at the age of 19, he signed a two-year academy contract with French club Biarritz ahead of the 2019–20 season. The deal meant that Scannell would train full-time with the club's senior squad, whilst initially playing matches for the espoirs, or under-23s, side.[4] He made his senior competitive debut for the club in their 2019–20 Pro D2 round 20 fixture away to Vannes on 14 February 2020.[5] Scannell joined Fédérale 1 club Stade Lagonnais on loan for the 2021–22 season.[6]
International career
editHaving previously represented Ireland at under-18 and under-19 level, Scannell made his debut for Ireland under-20s in their 34–14 win against Italy on 22 February 2019 during the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[7] Ireland went on to win a grand slam in that year's tournament.[4]
References
edit- ^ "'I play rugby because I love the game, not just because my brothers play'". The42. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "PBC Win 29th Munster Schools Senior Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Young Gun: Billy Scannell – Munster hooker". The Rugby Paper. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ireland U20 international Scannell signs for French club Biarritz". The42. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Madigan slots penalty for Bristol and 20-year-old Scannell debuts in Biarritz". The42. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Communiqué du club". Stade Langonnais (in French). 3 November 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Ireland Under-20s Stay Top After Bonus Point Raid In Rieti". Irish Rugby. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
External links
edit