Fionn McLoughlin (born 6 September 1982) is an Irish rugby union player. He has represented both Ireland and Wales at youth level. He plays centre,[4] winger[5] and fly half.[1] He is the son of former Ireland and British Lions prop Gerry McLoughlin.[6]

Fionn McLoughlin
Date of birth (1982-09-06) 6 September 1982 (age 42)[1]
Place of birthLimerick, Republic of Ireland[1]
Height188[2] cm (6 ft 2 in)
Notable relative(s)Gerry McLoughlin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, fly half, winger
Current team Tunbridge Wells[3]
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Shannon ()
Munster ()
2001 Galwegians ()
2001 Connacht ()
2002-2007 Caerphilly ()
2007 Pontypridd / Llanharan ()
2008 Bedwas ()
2009 Shannon ()
2010-2015 Plymouth Albion ()
2015-2017 Old Elthamians ()
2017 Tunbridge Wells RFC ()

Early life

edit

Born in Limerick, Republic of Ireland on 6 September 1982,[2] McLoughlin grew up in Wales where his father was a teacher.[6] In 1999, he played for Cardinal Newman Roman Catholic School in Rhydyfelin in the Welsh Schools Under-18 Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.[7]

Career

edit

McLoughlin started his career at Shannon RFC where he played for Irish region Munster Rugby[8] He also played for Galwegians RFC and Connacht Rugby in 2001.[9][10] In 2002, McLoughlin moved to Welsh club Caerphilly RFC where he took part in their 2002-03 European Shield campaign.[11] In 2007, McLoughlin moved to Pontypridd RFC on a dual-registration with Llanharan RFC.[12][13] In 2008, McLoughlin joined Bedwas RFC owing to limited opportunities at Pontypridd.[2][13] In 2009, McLoughlin returned to Ireland to rejoin Shannon where he helped them win the All-Ireland League.[14] During the [Northern Hemisphere] summer, he played in Australia for the University of Western Australia RUFC.[15]

Later that year, he had a trial with English RFU Championship team Plymouth Albion R.F.C.,[8] where he was signed permanently.[5] In 2015, McLoughlin was signed by National League 2 South Old Elthamians.[16] In 2017, McLoughlin joined Tunbridge Wells RFC,[4] where he played a part in them achieving a second successive promotion.[3]

International career

edit

McLoughlin has represented both the Wales national under-18 rugby union team[12][17] and the Ireland national under-19 rugby union team[13][18] at international level. He was also called up for the Ireland Club XV against England Counties XV.[19]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Fionn McLoughlin". PRO12. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Fionn McLoughlin". Bedwas RFC. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b newsdesk (3 May 2017). "Tunbridge Wells survive play-off thriller to secure place among elite". Times of Tunbridge Wells. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b newsdesk (8 March 2017). "Inspirational Cook lifts Wells to turn in brilliant team effort". Times of Tunbridge Wells. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b This is Devon (11 November 2010). "Plymouth Albion winger Fionn McLoughlin has been honoured for his try-scoring prowess with the club's player of the month award for October". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b "Ginger McLoughlin – Limerick's Rugby Legend". Politico.ie. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Cardinal Newman, the Roman Catholic school from Pontypridd, upset all the odds in the final of yesterday's Welsh Schools Under-18 Cup final". Cardinal Newman School. 1 April 2000. Archived from the original on 27 January 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b "McLoughlin joins Albion's Irish band". Cornwall Live. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Johnny Watterson (29 September 2001). "AIL Team By Team". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Celtic League comings and goings". ESPN. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Caerphilly hold out". BBC Sport. 26 April 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Changing faces". Wales Online. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "McLoughlin, Fionn". Pontypridd RFC. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. ^ "McLoughlin Tries Make The Difference For Shannon". IRFU. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Shannon Players Making Their Mark Down Under". IRFU. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  16. ^ @ElthamiansRFC (24 October 2015). "Old Elthamians RFC on Twitter: "69 mins Fionn McLoughlin debut try in the left corner. OEs 31 – 17" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "Played For Wales U18". Bedwas RFC. 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Played For Ireland U19". Bedwas RFC. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Four Limerick players get International call up". Limerick Post. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2017.