Ben O'Connor (rugby union)
| Born | 20 August 2004[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97 kg (214 lb; 15 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Presentation Brothers College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ben O'Connor (born 20 August 2004) is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Munster. He plays at full-back and wing.
Early life
[edit]From County Cork, O'Connor was a hurler, and captained the Cork minors to the All-Ireland title before doing similary with the Cork U-20 hurling team in 2023. He also played for St Finbarr's National Hurling & Football Club. Having also played rugby union at Presentation Brothers College, Cork, with whom he won the Senior Cup in 2023, he was offered a place in the academy at Munster Rugby.[3]
Club career
[edit]O'Connor made his senior Munster Rugby debut in the United Rugby Championship (URC) in November 2023 as a second-half replacement for Sean O'Brien in a 45-14 win against Dragons. The debut came 153 days after he won the All-Ireland U20 Hurling Championship with Cork.[4] Having made a further six appearances as a replacement, in January 2025, he was awarded a first start for Munster, against Dragons, in the URC.[5] Later that year, he made his debut start in the European Rugby Champions Cup against Gloucester Rugby.[6]
Ahead of the 2026-27 season, O'Connor was promoted from the Academy to the senior Munster squad on a two-year contract, having made 17 senior appearances in total, including five in the Champions Cup.[7]
International career
[edit]O'Connor made his debut for the Ireland Under-20 team against France U20 in February 2024.[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Ben O'Connor". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "Ben O'Connor". All Rugby. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ Tracey, Cian (13 October 2026). "'It was a very, very tough decision' – Meet Ben O'Connor, the Cork underage star who opted for rugby over hurling". Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "Ben O'Connor makes his debut as Munster beat Dragons with ease at Musgrave Park". echolive.ie. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "Ben O'Connor handed first Munster start in Dragons clash". irishexaminer.com. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "Ben O'Connor starts on the wing for Munster". 96fm.ie. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "Seán Edogbo promoted to Munster senior squad with two-year deal". Irish Independent. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "'I Just Need To Keep Kicking On' - Ireland U-20 Debutant O'Connor". Irish Rugby. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
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