Alan Quinlan
Encyclopedia
Alan Quinlan is an Irish rugby union
player. He played for Munster
and is registered to the AIB League
side Shannon
. He retired from rugby in May 2011.
in Tipperary and worked for a motor dealer after leaving school. He began his rugby career with Clanwilliam FC
where he captained the Irish Youth Team against Scotland in 1993. He normally plays as a blindside flanker
, but has also played openside
, number eight
and second row
for Munster.
in 1996 and captained the youths team before becoming a regular in the first team. In May 2006 he made a comeback from a cruciate ligament
injury earlier in the season to win both the AIB League Division 1 title with Shannon and the Heineken Cup with Munster after a late appearance from the bench in the Heineken Cup Final win over Biarritz in Cardiff. He captained the side from Number Eight in Munster's upset victory over Ulster
in Ravenhill
in the 2007 Magner's League
. Quinlan was voted Man of the Match as Munster beat Toulouse 16–13 on 24 May 2008 to win the Heineken Cup
for a second time. He was part of the Squad that won the 2008–2009 Magners League. In total he holds five league medals with Shannon, as well as two Heineken Cup medals and a Celtic League
Medal with Munster. Quinlan won his 201st cap against Leinster, equalling Anthony Foley's club record for caps, on 2 October 2010. He became Munster's most capped player ever on 16 October 2010, against RC Toulon in the Heineken Cup.
in October 1999 as a replacement in a Test against Romania
. He played his first Six Nations
match against Italy
in 2001. He was a part of Ireland's squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup
in Australia and scored two tries in the tournament before dislocating his shoulder scoring a vital try against Argentina
in the pool stages, which ended his involvement. He was named in Ireland's 2007 Rugby World Cup
squad but did not make any appearances. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan
was widely criticised afterwards for not using his bench. Quinlan took his caps to a total of 27 by playing in the Autumn Internationals
of 2008 against Canada
and the All Blacks
.
. During Munsters Heineken cup semi-final defeat to Leinster
in May 2009, Quinlan was cited for making contact with the eye or eye area of Leinster captain Leo Cullen
. The offence was deemed at the low range of seriousness and he received a 12 playing week ban until 9 September 2009. As a result he missed the Lions tour to South Africa.
More recently he has had strong performances for Munster in the Heineken Cup and Magners League, often earning the Man of the Match award. In the 2009-2010 season he represented Munster 21 times, including all 8 of their 2010 Heineken Cup matches. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/squadprofiles.php?player=3903&includeref=dynamic.
In April 2011, Quinlan officially announced his retirement from professional rugby, to be effective at the end of the 2010/11 season.He played his last game for Munster on 06 May 2011, against Connacht
in the Celtic League
, scoring a try to mark the end of his remarkable career and going off to a standing ovation from the Munster and Connacht supporters. He joined the Munster team at the 2011 Magners League Grand Final trophy presentation, celebrating Munster's 19-9 victory over old rivals Leinster in Thomond Park
.
He was a co-commentator for ITV
's coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
.
town during the summer of 2008. They have one son named AJ who was born in January 2009. They later split up in June 2010.
He released an autobiography, entitled 'Quinlan: Red Blooded', in 2010.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He played for Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
and is registered to the AIB League
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
side Shannon
Shannon RFC
Shannon Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union team from Ireland, they hail from Limerick near the banks of the Shannon river. The club is a member of the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch and as one of the top amateur sides in Ireland has seen many of its players progress to...
. He retired from rugby in May 2011.
Career
Quinlan was educated at Abbey CBSAbbey CBS
The Abbey CBS is a Christian Brothers Secondary School in Tipperary town, South Tipperary in Ireland. The school has a rich history in education going back hundreds of years....
in Tipperary and worked for a motor dealer after leaving school. He began his rugby career with Clanwilliam FC
Clanwilliam Rugby Club
Clanwilliam FC is the fifth oldest rugby union club in Ireland....
where he captained the Irish Youth Team against Scotland in 1993. He normally plays as a blindside flanker
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
, but has also played openside
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
, number eight
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
and second row
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
for Munster.
Club/Provincial Career
Quinlan moved from Clanwilliam to join Shannon U20s in 1994. He began playing for MunsterMunster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
in 1996 and captained the youths team before becoming a regular in the first team. In May 2006 he made a comeback from a cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injury earlier in the season to win both the AIB League Division 1 title with Shannon and the Heineken Cup with Munster after a late appearance from the bench in the Heineken Cup Final win over Biarritz in Cardiff. He captained the side from Number Eight in Munster's upset victory over Ulster
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in Ravenhill
Ravenhill Stadium
Ravenhill Stadium is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is used by Ulster Rugby. It has a normal capacity of 12,300 and is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union.-History:The grounds were opened in the 1923/24 season...
in the 2007 Magner's League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. Quinlan was voted Man of the Match as Munster beat Toulouse 16–13 on 24 May 2008 to win the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
for a second time. He was part of the Squad that won the 2008–2009 Magners League. In total he holds five league medals with Shannon, as well as two Heineken Cup medals and a Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
Medal with Munster. Quinlan won his 201st cap against Leinster, equalling Anthony Foley's club record for caps, on 2 October 2010. He became Munster's most capped player ever on 16 October 2010, against RC Toulon in the Heineken Cup.
International career
Quinlan represented Ireland 'A' between 1998 and 2001 and made his senior debut for the Irish national teamIreland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
in October 1999 as a replacement in a Test against Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
. He played his first Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
match against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
in 2001. He was a part of Ireland's squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
in Australia and scored two tries in the tournament before dislocating his shoulder scoring a vital try against Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
in the pool stages, which ended his involvement. He was named in Ireland's 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad but did not make any appearances. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan
Eddie O'Sullivan
Eddie O'Sullivan is an Irish rugby union coach and a former footballer. He is a former head coach of the United States national rugby union team and of the Ireland national rugby union team....
was widely criticised afterwards for not using his bench. Quinlan took his caps to a total of 27 by playing in the Autumn Internationals
End of year rugby tests
The End of year rugby tests, known as Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere or Guinness Autumn Series in the Republic of Ireland, are a series of rugby union matches contested approximately each November...
of 2008 against Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
and the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
.
Recent career
On the 21st April 2009, Quinlan was named in the squad for the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
. During Munsters Heineken cup semi-final defeat to Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in May 2009, Quinlan was cited for making contact with the eye or eye area of Leinster captain Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen (rugby player)
Leo Cullen is an Irish rugby union player who plays Lock for Irish club Leinster Rugby and Ireland. He was educated, firstly at Willow Park which is the junior school to Blackrock College where he attended secondary school...
. The offence was deemed at the low range of seriousness and he received a 12 playing week ban until 9 September 2009. As a result he missed the Lions tour to South Africa.
More recently he has had strong performances for Munster in the Heineken Cup and Magners League, often earning the Man of the Match award. In the 2009-2010 season he represented Munster 21 times, including all 8 of their 2010 Heineken Cup matches. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/squadprofiles.php?player=3903&includeref=dynamic.
In April 2011, Quinlan officially announced his retirement from professional rugby, to be effective at the end of the 2010/11 season.He played his last game for Munster on 06 May 2011, against Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
in the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, scoring a try to mark the end of his remarkable career and going off to a standing ovation from the Munster and Connacht supporters. He joined the Munster team at the 2011 Magners League Grand Final trophy presentation, celebrating Munster's 19-9 victory over old rivals Leinster in Thomond Park
Thomond Park
Thomond Park is a stadium located in Limerick in the Irish province of Munster. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union and count Munster Rugby, Shannon RFC and UL Bohemian RFC as tenants. The capacity of the stadium is 26,500 following its large scale redevelopment in...
.
He was a co-commentator for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
.
Personal life
Quinlan married Irish model Ruth Griffin in TipperaryTipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
town during the summer of 2008. They have one son named AJ who was born in January 2009. They later split up in June 2010.
He released an autobiography, entitled 'Quinlan: Red Blooded', in 2010.