Daniel Okeke (born 26 December 2001) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number eight for United Rugby Championship club Munster.

Daniel Okeke
Date of birth (2001-12-26) 26 December 2001 (age 22)
Place of birthLimerick, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st; 240 lb)
SchoolArdscoil Rís
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back-Row
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Thomond ()
Shannon ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Munster 3 (0)
Correct as of 23 February 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021 Ireland U20 3 (5)
Correct as of 7 July 2021

Early life

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Born in Limerick, Okeke first began playing rugby with Thomond,[1] before attending Ardscoil Rís, where his strong carrying and try-scoring performances in the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup caught media attention.[2]

Munster

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Strong performances for famous Limerick amateur club Shannon saw Okeke, who was part of the National Talent Squad, earn an appearance for Munster A in December 2020,[1] before he joined the Munster academy ahead of the 2021–22 season.[3] Following the disruption caused by the province's recent tour to South Africa, Okeke made his senior competitive debut for Munster in their opening 2021–22 Champions Cup fixture away to English club Wasps on 12 December 2021, starting in the province's 35–14 win.[4]

In May 2024, it was announced that Okeke would be leaving Munster at the end of the season. [5]

Ireland

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Okeke was selected in the Ireland under-20s squad for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, and made a try-scoring debut off the bench in Ireland's 40–12 win against Wales.[6] He then featured off the bench again in the 24–15 defeat against England,[7] and made his first start for Ireland in their 30–23 win against Italy.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Limerick's Okeke one of three promoted Greencore Munster Rugby Academy". Sporting Limerick. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Watch: Ardscoil's Powerhouse Does It Again With Ruthless Try In Munster Schools Cup". Ball.ie. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Trio Join Greencore Munster Rugby Academy". Munster Rugby. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Munster's young guns thrill in wild and wonderful bonus-point win over Wasps". The42. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Squad Update Munster Prepare For Edinburgh". 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Excellent Ireland U20s make it 2/2 with bonus-point win over hosts Wales". The42. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Ireland U20s fail to win third successive Triple Crown after loss to England". The42. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Daniel Okeke to make first start for Ireland U20s in clash with Italy". Irish Examiner. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Alex Kendellen's tries save Ireland U20s after Italian scare". Irish Examiner. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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