Seán French (rugby union)

Seán French (born 14 August 1999) is an Irish rugby union player for English RFU Championship club Bedford Blues. He plays as a centre, wing or fullback.

For other uses, see Sean French.

Seán French
Date of birth (1999-08-14) 14 August 1999
Place of birthCork, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight99 kg (15.6 st; 218 lb)
SchoolPresentation Brothers College
UniversityUniversity College Cork
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing, Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2022 Cork Constitution ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020–2022 Munster 2 (5)
2022– Bedford Blues 24 (92)
Correct as of 29 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 Ireland U20 4 (0)
Correct as of 4 June 2019

Early life

Born in Cork, French won the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2017 with Presentation Brothers College, alongside former Munster teammates Jonathan Wren and Jack O'Sullivan, with French scoring all of PBC's points in their 11–3 victory.[1] He was subsequently named in the top XV for the tournament that year.[2] French also represented Munster at under-18 and under-19 level, as well as Ireland at under-18 and under-19 level.[3]

Career

Cork Constitution

French was part of the Cork Con team that won the Munster Senior Cup during the 2018–19 season.[4] He also scored a try in Con's 23–3 win against Dublin University on 28 April 2019, a victory that ensured Con progressed to the final of the 2018–19 All-Ireland League against Clontarf,[5] and went on to start in the final, which Con won 28–13.[6] French scored nine points in Con's 24–17 win against Young Munster in the final of the 2019–20 Munster Senior Cup on 20 December 2019.[7]

Munster

French joined the Munster academy ahead of the 2018–19 season,[8] and made his first appearance for Munster A in their 24–16 win against Connacht Eagles in round 1 of the 2018–19 Celtic Cup on 7 September 2018,[9] before going on to feature in all Munster A's fixtures in the tournament.[10] French made his senior competitive debut for Munster against Italian side Zebre in round 8 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 30 November 2020, coming on in the 21st minute as a replacement for injured fullback Matt Gallagher and scoring a try in the province's 52–3 win.[11] He joined the Munster senior squad on a one-year contract for the 2021–22 season,[12] and made his first start for Munster in their 18–13 home win against provincial rivals Ulster in round 10 of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship on 8 January 2022.[13] French left Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season.[14]

Bedford Blues

French joined English RFU Championship club Bedford Blues ahead of the 2022–23 season.[15]

Ireland

French was selected in the Ireland under-20's squad for the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[16] featuring off the bench in the opening 35–27 win against England[17] and starting in the wins against France[18] and Wales, the latter of which secured Ireland's first grand slam since 2007.[19] He was retained in the under-20s squad for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,[20] and featured off the bench in the opening fixture against England, preventing English lock Joel Kpoku from scoring a try and helping to setup John Hodnett's try to seal Ireland's 46–26 win.[21] However, French sustained a facial injury during the game which ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament.[22]

Honours

Presentation Brothers College

Cork Constitution

Ireland under-20s

References
  1. "PBC Win 29th Munster Schools Senior Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. "Outstanding PBC centre French leads the way for class of 2017". Irish Independent. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  3. "Getting To Know | Munster Players In Ireland U20s Squad". Munster Rugby. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  4. "Report | Cork Con Regain BOI Munster Senior Challenge Cup". Munster Rugby. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  5. "Stunning try from Ireland U20 French sets Con on their way to decider with Clontarf". The42. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  6. "Cork Con seal second AIL title in three years with Aviva victory over Clontarf". The42. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  7. "Report | Cork Con Secure 30th Munster Senior Challenge Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  8. "Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  9. "Report | Munster A Beat Connacht In Celtic Cup". Munster Rugby. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  10. "Seán French Munster A Profile". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  11. "Report | Eight-Try Munster Continue Winning Start". Munster Rugby. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  12. "Latest Player Contracts Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  13. "Report | 14-Man Munster Fight Back To Beat Ulster". Munster Rugby. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  14. "Munster Rugby Departing Players Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. "Seán French heads across the Irish Sea to join Bedford". Bedford Rugby. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  16. "Hawkshaw To Captain Ireland Under-20s As Squad Is Announced". Irish Rugby. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  17. "Foley Try Seals Unforgettable Cork Debut For Ireland Under-20s". Irish Rugby. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  18. "Ireland Under-20s Dethrone France To Guarantee Six Nations Title Win". Irish Rugby. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  19. "Ireland Under-20s Complete Grand Slam Mission With Bonus Point Flourish". Irish Rugby. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  20. "Ireland U-20 Squad Confirmed Ahead of Departure to Argentina". Irish Rugby. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  21. "Superb Six-Try Salvo Sees Ireland Under-20s Over The Line In Santa Fe". Irish Rugby. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  22. "Russell And Watters Handed First Ireland U-20 Starts". Irish Rugby. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
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