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Tom O'Toole (rugby union)

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Tom O'Toole
O'Toole representing Ireland during the Six Nations Championship
Full nameThomas Niall O'Toole
Date of birth (1998-09-23) 23 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birthDrogheda, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight123 kg (271 lb; 19 st 5 lb)
SchoolCampbell College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Ulster
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Ulster 112 (15)
Correct as of 26 October 2024[1]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Ireland U20 5 (0)
2021– Ireland 14 (0)
2022 Ireland Wolfhounds 1 (0)
Correct as of 9 November 2024[2]

Thomas Niall O'Toole (born 23 September 1998) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Ulster and the Ireland national team.

Early life

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Born in Drogheda, O'Toole lived in Ratoath, County Meath until he was six years of age before moving to Brisbane, Australia for ten years due to his father's work commitments,[3] where he attended Padua College.[4] He was selected for the Queensland Reds development side and Queensland Schoolboys in 2015, before being connected with the Irish Exiles setup.[5] He moved to Campbell College in Northern Ireland which allowed him to link up with the Ulster and Ireland age grade setups, going on to play for Ireland at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level.[6]

Professional career

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He joined the Ulster Rugby academy straight from school in 2017,[7] and made his senior Ulster debut on 6 April 2018 in round 19 of the 2017–18 Pro14, starting in the provinces 32–20 away win against Scottish side Edinburgh.[8][9] He made five senior appearances, including two starts, in the 2017–18 season,[10] and won Academy Player of the Year at the 2018 Ulster Rugby Awards.[11] He was awarded a development contract for the 2018–19 season, which would advance to a senior contract from the 2019–20 season until June 2022.[12] during which he made 18 appearances, including 3 starts.[1]

In the 2019–20 season he made 22 appearances, including ten starts,[1] and was named Young Player of the Year in the Ulster Rugby Awards.[13] He received his first call up to the senior Ireland squad on 15 January 2020 for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.[14]

In 2020–21 he made fifteen appearances, including two starts,[1] and made 141 tackes and one turnover.[15] In June 2021 he was called up again to the senior Ireland squad for the Summer tests,[16] and made his senior international debut in a 71–10 victory over the United States on 10 July 2021.[17] In the 2021–22 season he has made 15 appearances, including eight starts,[1] and appeared off the bench for Ireland in their 53–7 home win over Argentina in the 2021 Autumn internationals.[18] He was called up to the Ireland squad for their 2022 tour of New Zealand.[19] He was called up to Ireland's 2023 Six Nations Championship squad coming off the bench in all 5 matches as Ireland won the championship and Grand Slam.[20] He was called up to the Ireland squad for their two-match tour of South Africa in July 2024.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Club playing stats at ItsRugby.co.uk
  2. ^ International playing stats at ItsRugby.com
  3. ^ Doyle, Garry. "The road from Meath to the 2021 Six Nations via Brisbane and Belfast". The42. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ Schoolzine. "Padua College eNewsletter". Padua College. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. ^ "I fell in love when I first laid eyes on Kingspan: Tom O'Toole". Belfast Telegraph. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  6. ^ "From Queensland Schoolboys to the Ireland U20s: Tom O'Toole's tale". The42. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. ^ Michael Sadlier, "Ulster recruit school stars for Academy fast-tracking", Belfast Telegraph, 29 July 2017
  8. ^ "Ulster team named for trip to Edinburgh". Ulster Rugby. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Edinburgh 20 Ulster 32". Ulster Rugby. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  10. ^ Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18, The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018
  11. ^ "Cooney scoops three awards at Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner", Ulster Rugby, 10 May 2018
  12. ^ "Ulster Rugby: Angus Curtis and Tom O'Toole earn upgraded contracts". BBC Sport. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  13. ^ "John Cooney is named Ulster's Player of the Year as Marcel Coetzee wins hat-trick of awards", BBC Sport, 20 September 2020
  14. ^ "Six Nations: Johnny Sexton to captain Ireland as Andy Farrell's reign begins". BBC Sport. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. ^ Ulster 2020-21 - Who Did What?, The Front Row Union, 12 August 2021
  16. ^ "Ireland Squad Confirmed For Vodafone Summer Series". Irish Rugby. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Baloucoune wonder try sparks Ireland to life as they put 71 points on USA". the42. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  18. ^ Michael Bradley, "Tom O’Toole hailed as ‘exceptional’ after Ireland deal with upheaval to smash Argentina", Belfast Telegraph, 21 November 2021
  19. ^ Gerry Thornley, "Ireland name their 40-man squad for tour of New Zealand", The Irish Times, 14 June 2022
  20. ^ "Ireland finish over the top of England to claim glorious Grand Slam". the42. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Ireland Squad Update", Irish Rugby, 8 July 2024
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