Niall Armstrong (born 19 August 1999) is an Irish rugby union player who plays at scrum half for Exeter Chiefs.

Niall Armstrong
Date of birth (1999-08-19) 19 August 1999 (age 25)[1]
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Weight86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb)[3]
SchoolRoyal Belfast Academical Institution
UniversityExeter University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum half
Current team Exeter Chiefs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023- Exeter Chiefs ()

Early life

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From Ulster, he attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution.[4] He also attended Exeter University where he captained the first-XI rugby union team.[5]

Career

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He made his debut for Exeter Chiefs in September 2023.[5] During his first season for Exeter, he was mainly used as a replacement at the start of the season but scored two tries for the club in the opening weeks of the season.[6] In November 2023, he was given a red card in the Rugby Premiership for a high boot striking Northampton Saints fly half Fin Smith in the face which was deemed as reckless.[7] It was an action that his Exeter head coach Rob Baxter described as "not deliberate" and Smith described as just "one of those things".[8][9] In April 2024 after making eleven appearances for the Chiefs he agreed a contract extension.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "N.Armstrong". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Niall Armstrong". Its Rugby. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Niall Armstrong". All Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ^ Bradley, Jonathan (19 January 2024). "How Ulster rejection sent Niall Armstrong, a Schools' Cup winner with RBAI, on a journey to Exeter". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Scrum-half Armstrong extends Exeter Chiefs contract". BBC Sport. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  6. ^ Pilnick, Brent (16 November 2023). "Niall Armstrong: Exeter scrum-half banned after red card at Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  7. ^ Evely, John (16 November 2024). "Disciplinary panel deliver verdict on Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Niall Armstrong's red card ban". Devon Live. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  8. ^ Nickson, Frank (16 November 2023). "Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Niall Armstrong suspended for three games". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  9. ^ Vickers, Tom (16 November 2023). "Saints fly-half Smith reflects on red card incident as Exeter's Armstrong is hit with suspension". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 1 May 2024.