Alex Kendellen

Alex Kendellen (born 3 March 2001) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Munster.

Alex Kendellen
Date of birth (2001-03-03) 3 March 2001
Place of birthCork, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight105 kg (16.5 st; 231 lb)
SchoolPresentation Brothers College
UniversityUniversity College Cork
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back-row
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Cork Constitution ()
2020– UCC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Munster 44 (15)
Correct as of 22 October 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 Ireland Schools
2021 Ireland 7s 1 (0)
2021 Ireland U20 5 (30)
2022 Emerging Ireland 0 (0)
Correct as of 16 September 2022

Early life

Born in Cork, Kendellen attended Presentation Brothers College and captained the school to the final of the 2020 Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup, scoring two tries in their 33–10 semi-final win against Limerick school St Munchin's College,[1] though the final against Cork rivals Christian Brothers College was cancelled and the cup shared due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Munster

Having already won representative honours with Munster under-18s and under-19s, Kendellen joined the Munster academy immediately upon leaving school in June 2020.[3] He made his senior competitive debut for Munster in their 2020–21 Pro14 round 15 match against Welsh side Scarlets on 12 March 2021, coming on as a 28th minute replacement for the injured Fineen Wycherley in Munster's 28–10 win,[4] and made his Champions Cup debut for Munster in their 2021–22 pool B round 2 fixture at home to French club Castres on 18 December 2021, coming on as a replacement for John Hodnett in the province's 19–13 win.[5]

Kendellen made his first start for Munster in their 10–8 away defeat against provincial rivals Connacht in round 9 of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship on 1 January 2022,[6] and scored his first try for the province one week later in their 18–13 home win against Ulster.[7] For his performances during the 2021–22 season, Kendellen won Munster's John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year when the province's end-of-season awards were announced in June 2022.[8]

Kendellen joined Munster's senior squad on a two-year contract from the 2022–23 season,[9] and extended that contract by a further year in September 2022, meaning Kendellen will remain with the province until at least July 2025.[10] He featured off the bench in Munster's historic 28–14 win against a South Africa XV in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 10 November 2022,[11] and also came on as a replacement in Munster's 19–14 win against the Stormers in the final of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 27 May 2023.[12]

Ireland

Kendellen represented the Ireland Schools team at the under-18 Six Nations Festival in 2018, and captained the side at the same tournament in 2019.[13] He has also played for the Ireland under-18 Sevens team.[14] He received his first call up to the Ireland 7s team ahead of the International Rugby 7's tournament at St George's Park, England in May 2021, where they played hosts Great Britain and the United States.[15]

Kendellen was selected to captain the Ireland under-20s team at the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship when the squad was announced on 10 June 2021,[16] scoring a try and earning the player of the match award in Ireland's opening 38–7 win against Scotland on 19 June.[17] Kendellen followed up his opening round exploits with another try and strong performance in Ireland's 40–12 win against Wales on 25 June,[18] before a 24–15 defeat against England on 1 July brought an end to Ireland's winning start in the tournament.[19] Looking to get back to winning ways, Ireland suffered a scare against Italy on 7 July, trailing 23–12 at half-time, before two tries from player of the match Kendellen sparked a second-half comeback for a 30–23 Irish victory.[20] In Ireland's final game of the tournament, Kendellen scored two tries in his sides 34–28 defeat against France on 13 July,[21] finishing the tournament with six tries in five games and two player of the match awards, having featured in all but 22 minutes of Ireland's campaign.[22]

Kendellen was selected in the Emerging Ireland squad that travelled to South Africa to participate in the Toyota Challenge against Currie Cup teams Free State Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas in September–October 2022,[23] however, he was ruled out of the tour due to concussion and returned to Munster to complete the mandatory return-to-play protocols.[24]

Honours

Presentation Brothers College

Munster

Individual

Notes
  1. The 2020 Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup was shared with Christian Brothers College due to COVID-19 restrictions.

References
  1. "Alex Kendellen leads PBC fightback to set up Munster decider against CBC". The Irish Times. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. "Domestic Rugby Season To Conclude". Munster Rugby. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. "Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. "Report | Munster Make It Five Wins In A Row". Munster Rugby. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. "Report | Munster Make It Back-To-Back Wins In Europe". Munster Rugby. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  6. "Report | Narrow Loss For Munster At Connacht". Munster Rugby. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  7. "Report | 14-Man Munster Fight Back To Beat Ulster". Munster Rugby. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  8. "2022 Munster Rugby Awards". Munster Rugby. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  9. "Six Munster Players Sign Two-Year Contract Extensions". Munster Rugby. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  10. "Player Contract Extensions Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  11. "Report | Munster Secure Historic Victory Over SA Select XV". Munster Rugby. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  12. "Magical Munster see off Stormers to win URC title and end trophy drought". Irish Examiner. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  13. "Kendellen To Captain Ireland U-18 Schools Team Against France". Irish Rugby. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  14. "Crowley among three recruits to Munster academy as Barron gets senior deal". The42. 7 June 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  15. "Ireland Sevens Squads Named For International Rugby 7s". IRFU. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  16. "Kendellen to lead Ireland at U20 Six Nations". Irish Examiner. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  17. "Ireland U20s get Six Nations campaign over to perfect start with 6-try win". The42. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. "Excellent Ireland U20s make it 2/2 with bonus-point win over hosts Wales". The42. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  19. "Ireland U20s fail to win third successive Triple Crown after loss to England". The42. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  20. "Alex Kendellen's tries save Ireland U20s after Italian scare". Irish Examiner. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  21. "France's power in reserve tells as they pip never-say-die Ireland to second in U20s Six Nations". The42. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  22. "Video | Alex Kendellen U20 6 Nations Highlights". Munster Rugby. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  23. "Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Bloemfontein Trip". Munster Rugby. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  24. "Kendellen, Frawley out of Emerging Ireland tour through injury". Irish Examiner. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
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