Robert Baloucoune

Robert Baloucoune (born 19 August 1997) is an Irish rugby union player who plays on the wing for United Rugby Championship and European Champions Cup side Ulster, and internationally for Ireland

Robert Baloucoune
Date of birth (1997-08-19) 19 August 1997
Place of birthEnniskillen, Northern Ireland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight89 kg (14.0 st; 196 lb)
SchoolPortora Royal School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 Enniskillen RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Ulster 54 (135)
Correct as of 5 May 2023[1]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Ireland 4 (10)
2022 Emerging Ireland 2 (5)
Correct as of 12 November 2022
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2018 Ireland 7s 6

Early career

Baloucoune was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland; his father is from Senegal.[2] Baloucoune attended Portora Royal School (later Enniskillen Royal Grammar School) and represented Enniskillen RFC in the Ulster Towns Cup, being part of the team that lost the 2017 final to Ballynahinch 2nds.[3]

He was selected by Ireland 7s for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, where they won the Challenge Trophy by beating Australia 24–14 and finished ninth overall. He was also part of the squad that won the 2018 Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series, Ireland's first Europe Grand Prix title.[3] His performances for Ireland resulted in him earning a place in Ulster's academy part-way through the 2017–18 season.[2]

Senior career

He made his senior debut for Ulster in their 36–18 win against Welsh side Dragons on 26 October 2018, in round 7 of the Pro14.[4] He made his Champions Cup debut in round 5 of the 2018–19 tournament, starting against French side Racing 92 and scoring a try in Ulster's 26–22 win on 12 January 2019.[5][6] He made 14 appearances and scored six tries in the 2018–19 season,[1] and signed a development contract ahead of the 2019–20 season.[7]

He sustained a hamstring avulsion injury in training in August 2020,[8] which kept him out until February 2021.[9] In the meantime, he signed a two-year contract extension in January 2021.[10] In the 2021–22 season he made 13 appearances for Ulster and scored nine tries,[1] including a hat-trick against Toulouse in the Champions Cup,[11] and was nominated for Ulster's men's player of the year award.[12]

International career

He was called up as a development player by Andy Farrell, training with the Ireland squad before the 2020 Six Nations Championship.[10]

In June 2021 he was called up to the senior Ireland squad for the Summer tests.[13] He made his debut against the USA on 10 July 2021, playing 80 minutes and scoring a try in the 17th minute.[14]

He was unavailable for 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand with injury,[15] but was selected for the Emerging Ireland squad for the Toyota Challenge in South Africa in September 2022.[16]

References
  1. ItsRugby profile
  2. Kinsella, Murray (22 January 2019). "21-year-old academy wing Baloucoune taking his chances with Ulster". The42.ie. Journal Media. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  3. "All you need to know about Robert Baloucoune ahead of Enniskillen man's Ulster debut". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  4. "Ulster 36 Dragons 18". Ulster Rugby. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  5. "Team named for Euro showdown with Racing 92". Ulster Rugby. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  6. "Ulster 26 Racing 92 22". Ulster Rugby. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. "Nine Academy Players Earn Upgraded Contracts". Ulster Rugby. 3 June 2019.
  8. "McFarland laments loss of Baloucoune to horrible hamstring injury", The42, 18 August 2020
  9. "'A shock to the system': Baloucoune relieved to see action after injury nightmare", The 42, 1 March 2021
  10. "Ulster confirm new deals for Baloucoune, Marshall, Sexton and O'Connor", The42, 25 January 2021
  11. "Baloucoune hat-trick as Ulster win at Toulouse", European Professional Club Rugby, 9 April 2022
  12. "Vote for your player of the year in the 2021/22 Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards", Ulster Rugby, 15 June 2022
  13. "Ireland Squad Confirmed For Vodafone Summer Series". Irish Rugby. IRFU. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  14. Doyle, Garry. "Baloucoune wonder try sparks Ireland to life as they put 71 points on USA". The42.ie. Journal Media. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  15. Patrick McCarry, "Andy Farrell 'gutted' for Robert Baloucoune after injury costs him New Zealand tour", SportsJoe, 29 June 2022
  16. "Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Toyota Challenge In Bloemfontein", Irish Rugby, 14 September 2022
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