Fineen Wycherley (born 11 December 1997) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Munster.

Fineen Wycherley
Date of birth (1997-12-11) 11 December 1997 (age 26)
Place of birthBantry, Ireland
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight116 kg (18.3 st; 256 lb)
SchoolCistercian College
Notable relative(s)Josh Wycherley (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016– Young Munster ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Munster 105 (40)
Correct as of 01 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Ireland U20 9 (5)
2021 Ireland 1 (0)
Correct as of 10 July 2021

Early life edit

Wycherley was born in Bantry, County Cork. At age 16, he moved to Cistercian College, Roscrea and was part of the team that won the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2015, beating Belvedere College 18–11 in the final and winning the trophy for the first time in the school's history.[1][2] However, the following year Wycherley also tasted defeat in the competition, losing to the previous years beaten finalists, Belvedere, 31–7 in the final.[3]

Munster edit

Wycherley was an unused substitute in Munster's fixture against Welsh side Scarlets in Thomond Park on 24 February 2017. This was his first call-up to the senior Munster team in a United Rugby Championship fixture.[4] On 4 March 2017, Wycherley made his competitive debut for Munster when he came on as a replacement in the 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Cardiff Blues in Cardiff Arms Park.[5] In Munster's 2017–18 Pro14 defeat against Glasgow Warriors on 22 September 2017, Wycherley was sent off.[6] He was subsequently cited and banned for three weeks.[7]

Wycherley signed a one-year development contract with Munster in January 2018, which saw him join the senior squad for the 2018–19 season.[8] Wycherley won the 2018 John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year in April 2018.[9] He scored his first try for Munster during their 32–7 away win against Italian side Zebre during round 9 of the 2018–19 Pro14 on 25 November 2018.[10] He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in December 2018.[11] Wycherley made his Champions Cup debut for Munster on 9 December 2018, featuring off the bench in their 30–5 win against French pool 2 opponents Castres.[12]

Wycherley signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in March 2021,[13] and signed a further two-year extension in October 2022.[14]

Ireland edit

Having been named in the training squad for the 2017 Six Nations Under 20 Championship in December 2016,[15] Wycherley made his debut for Ireland U20 on 3 February 2017 when he started against Scotland U20 in his sides 19–20 away victory in Broadwood Stadium.[16][17] On 10 February 2017, Wycherley again started for Ireland U20, this time in the sides 26–27 away victory against Italy U20 in Stadio Enrico Chersoni.[18] On 17 March 2017, Wycherley started for Ireland U20 in their 10–14 defeat against England U20 in Donnybrook Stadium.[19] Wycherley was also selected in the Ireland Under-20s squad for the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[20]

When head coach Andy Farrell announced the Ireland squad for their two remaining 2020 Six Nations Championship fixtures in October, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wycherley was one of six players who, though not being called up to the squad, would train alongside it.[21] Wycherley received his first international call up when named in the squad for Ireland's tests against Japan and the United States in July 2021,[22] making his senior competitive debut as a replacement in the 71–10 win against the United States on 10 July 2021.[23]

Honours edit

Munster edit

Statistics edit

International analysis by opposition edit

Against Played Won Lost Drawn Tries Points % Won
  United States 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
Total 1 1 0 0 0 0 100

Correct as of 10 July 2021

References edit

  1. ^ "Roscrea claim first ever Leinster Senior Cup title with victory over Belvedere". Irish Independent. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Proud Corkonian Wycherley has taken long road to international stage". Irish Independent. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Belvedere secure an 11th Leinster Schools Senior Cup triumph". Irish Independent. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Thomond Park Run Ends". Munster Rugby. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Munster Bounce Back in Cardiff". Munster Rugby. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Munster Downed in Glasgow". Munster Rugby. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Three Weeks For Wycherley". Munster Rugby. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Contract Signings". Munster Rugby. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Earls Named Munster Player of the Year". Munster Rugby. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Report | Bonus Point Win in Parma". Munster Rugby. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  11. ^ "12 Munster Players Sign Contract Extensions". Munster Rugby. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Report | Hanrahan Leads Munster To Castres Win". Munster Rugby. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Player Signing, Contract Extensions & Academy Promotions". Munster Rugby. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Player Contract Extensions & New Signings". Munster Rugby. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Ireland Under-20 Training Squad Announced". Irish Rugby. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Kelly Leads New-Look Ireland Under-20 Team". Irish Rugby. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Boyle Try Drives Ireland U-20s To Gutsy Comeback Win". Irish Rugby. 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Three Tries Prove Just Enough For Ireland Under-20s". Irish Rugby. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  19. ^ "Ireland Under-20s Fall Just Short in Absorbing Battle With England". Irish Rugby. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Ireland U20 Squad Named For World Rugby U20 Championship". Irish Rugby. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Farrell includes six uncapped players in Ireland squad as Sexton retains captaincy". The42. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  22. ^ "10 Munster Players In Ireland Squad For Summer Series". Munster Rugby. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Ten-try Ireland cruise past USA as Ronan Kelleher scores four and debutants shine". RTÉ Sport. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.

External links edit