Tadhg Vincent Furlong (born 14 November 1992) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team. Furlong is widely considered to be one of the world's best tighthead props. Furlong has been selected and started on multiple British & Irish lions tours in his position as starting Tighthead prop.
 Tadhg Furlong in January 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Tadhg Vincent Furlong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 14 November 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | County Wexford, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 125 kg (276 lb; 19 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Good Counsel College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Dublin City University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editFurlong comes from a farming family in the parish of Horeswood in County Wexford.[2] He started his rugby playing underage at New Ross RFC in County Wexford.
Furlong also played Gaelic football and Hurling for Horeswood.[3]
Club career
editFurlong made his senior debut for Leinster Rugby in November 2013 as a replacement against the Dragons.[4] He was part of the Leinster A team which won the 2013–14 British and Irish Cup.[5][6] Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Furlong was promoted from the Leinster Academy to the senior squad.[7]
In 2021 Furlong was selected to World Rugby's Dream Team of the Year.[8]
International career
editIreland
editFurlong made his Ireland senior debut on 29 August 2015 against Wales in a warm-up game for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[9] He was named in the Ireland squad for the World Cup on 1 September 2015.[10][11] In November 2016, Furlong started for Ireland in the Autumn Internationals, including the historical victory over New Zealand on 15 November 2016.[12] He also played for Ireland in the 2017 Six Nations Championship.[13]
British & Irish Lions
editFurlong was selected in Warren Gatland's squad for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.[14] He started all three test matches in the drawn series.[15][16][17]
On 6 May 2021, Furlong was named in the squad for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.[18]
Honours
edit- Individual
- 3× World Rugby Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year: 2021, 2022, 2023
- Ireland
- 3× Six Nations Championship: 2018, 2023,[19] 2024
- 2× Grand Slam: 2018, 2023
- 3× Triple Crown: 2018, 2022, 2023
- Leinster
Personal life
editFurlong married his long term partner Aine Lacey in 2023.[20] His father died in December 2023 from cancer.
References
edit- ^ "LIONS V JAPAN UPDATE". Lions Rugby. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "The shape of things to come: Tadhg Furlong made for prop". irishtimes.com. 13 September 2014.
- ^ "Watch: Tadhg Furlong's 'Dancing at the Crossroads' moment reminds us of something". Hogan Stand. 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Newport Gwent Dragons 19 v 23 Leinster". leinsterrugby.ie. 1 November 2013.
- ^ "Leinster 'A' Team Named For British & Irish Cup Final". irishrugby.ie. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Leinster A 44 v 17 Leeds Carnegie". leinsterrugby.ie. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Leinster Academy Announced For The New Season". leinsterrugby.ie. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Tadhg Furlong named in World Rugby's Dream Team of the Year". the42. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Tadhg Furlong: 'I'd have said you were cracked if you'd told me a year ago I'd be here'". Irish Independent. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong named in Ireland's Rugby World Cup squad". Guardian. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Confirmed: Joe Schmidt names his 31-man Rugby World Cup squad after 'difficult calls'". Irish Independent. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Neil Francis: The question has to be asked – just where did Tadhg Furlong come from?". Irish Independent. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Ireland team named for Six Nations opener". Newstalk: Ireland, World & Breaking News. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "Gatland unveils his 2017 Lions squad". lionsrugby.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Lions Slip To First Test Defeat In Auckland". lionsrugby.com. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Dramatic Lions Comeback Levels The Test Series". lionsrugby.com. 1 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Dramatic Draw At Eden Park Means Series Is Shared". lionsrugby.com. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "British and Irish Lions 2021: Sam Simmonds in 37-man squad but Billy Vunipola misses out". BBC Sport. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "All 30 of Ireland's Grand Slam contributors rated - but one man comes out on top". Irish Independent. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ David Looby, "Tadhg Furlong marries sweetheart Aine Lacey in exclusive ceremony at luxury Wexford hotel", Irish Independent, 12 June 2023
