Eoghan Grace (born 6 October 1987) is an Irish former rugby union player.
| Date of birth | 6 October 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Clonmel, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (16 st; 220 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Rockwell College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career edit
Grace began his professional rugby career as a member of his native province Munster's academy, and during that time he won a grand slam with the Ireland under-20s team during the 2007 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and an All-Ireland League Division 1 title with Shannon in 2008–09.[1] However, Grace was unable to break into Munster's senior squad, and he moved to England to join Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2010–11 season.[2] Grace's time with the Devon club was hampered by an achilles injury,[3] and after one season with Exeter, Grace returned to Ireland to join Connacht. He stayed with the western province for two seasons, which were also hampered by injury,[3] before returning to Devon to join Plymouth Albion,[4] where he lodged with fellow former Munsterman Declan Cusack.[5]
After two seasons with Plymouth, Grace joined another RFU Championship side, Ealing Trailfinders, for the 2015–16 season.[6] At the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Grace signed for Coventry[7] and was appointed co-captain of the club,[3] before ending his career back with Plymouth, whilst also coaching in the club's academy and community programme.[3] After rugby, Grace began running two companies; Eolas+, a not-for-profit that goes into primary schools and runs holiday camps in the south-west of England to get children involved in sports, and Pro Rugby Academy, which works with aspiring rugby players who have missed out on contracts with professional clubs.[3]
References edit
- ^ "Munster Rugby Sub Academy". Munster Rugby. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Exeter Chiefs sign Munster flanker Eoghan Grace". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "'It's easy to get toxic. You're with other lads who can also be in a negative zone'". The42. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Plymouth Albion sign Connacht forward Eoghan Grace". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ^ "20 Questions: Eoghan Grace – Plymouth Albion flanker". The Rugby Paper. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Flanker Grace added to back row options". Ealing Trailfinders. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Coventry Rugby sign five players as summer rebuild continues". Coventry Telegraph. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2020.