Latest news with #StuartMcCloskey
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ireland score 106 to rout Portugal for record Test win
Summer tour second Test Portugal (0) 7 Tries: Martins Cons: Aubry Ireland (54) 106 Tries: McCloskey, Gavin 2, T O'Brien 2, Bolton 2, Clarkson, Casey, Prendergast 2, Nash, Frawley, Kendellen, Murphy, Penalty try Cons: Crowley 13 Advertisement Ireland secured their record Test victory by topping a century in their first capped international against Portugal at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor. The world's third-ranked side, whose previous biggest win was an 83-3 victory over the USA in June 2000, set new marks for points, tries and margin of victory. Without their large British and Irish Lions contingent, Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell gave debuts to Alex Kendellen, Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton, with the latter pair each crossing twice among the visitor's eight first-half tries. Kendellen would then mark his own Test bow with a try as a further eight were scored after the break. Advertisement Portugal got their only score through flanker Nicholas Martins in the second half, although they did have an earlier one chalked off by the television match official (TMO). Communication between the referee and his off-field assistant then failed meaning there were no replay reviews in place for the final hour. Stuart McCloskey scored the first of Ireland's 16 tries in the opening minute [Getty Images] After last week's win over Georgia, Ireland finished their two-Test summer tour on a high and will next be in action when they meet New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November. Portugal impressed at the 2023 World Cup when they beat Fiji and drew with Georgia in their first time at the tournament since 2007. Advertisement But this version of Os Lobos, however, finished only fourth in Rugby Europe after defeats to Spain and Romania and never looked competitive against far superior opposition. Despite being without 17 players who are on Lions duty, as well as their head coach Andy Farrell who is leading the tourists in Australia, Ireland dominated from start to finish. They took the lead with less than a minute on the clock when Stuart McCloskey crashed over from close range after some neat involvements from Jack Crowley. As well as debutants Bolton and Gavin, Tommy O'Brien, who claimed a pair of tries on debut against Georgia last week, also crossed twice in the first half, with tight-head Tom Clarkson also going over. Advertisement The loss of the TMO, in a game played in front of fewer than 10,000 supporters, came only after Portugal had a score chalked off when Vincent Pinto's pass to Nuno Guedes was judged to have gone forward. A difficult half for the hosts was made all the tougher when they lost both captain Tomas Appleton and his replacement Gabriel Aviragnet to injury, forcing back row Francisco Almeida into a role on the wing after only two backs were named on the bench. After eight tries in the first half, Ireland matched that tally in the second period. Their first after the restart came just 90 seconds into the half when captain Craig Casey marked a sharp performance by scampering between the posts. Advertisement Cian Prendergast, who missed out through illness against Georgia, barged over after a short line-out move with half an hour to go, while Martins' response at least showed what Portugal are capable of with ball in hand. It proved only a temporary slowing of Irish momentum, however. Replacements Calvin Nash and Ciaran Frawley were the next players to cross, before Prendergast matched his Connacht team-mates Bolton and Gavin in scoring a second. It was debutant Kendellen whose score edged Ireland past their previous record margin of victory, while Ben Murphy became the third replacement on the scoresheet. A last-play penalty try, following a line-out infringement, rounded off the rout and put Ireland into the record books. Advertisement Portugal: Guedes; Bento, V. Pinto, Appleton (capt), M. Pinto; Aubry, Camacho; D. Costa, Begic, D. Ferreira, De Andrade, P. Ferreira, De Carvalho, Martins, Ruiz Replacements: D'Cunha, Lopes, Souto, G. Costa, Almeida, Baptista, Campos, Avriagnet. Ireland: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Gavin, McCloskey, Bolton; Crowley, Casey (capt); Boyle, McCarthy, Clarkson, T Ahern, Murray, Baird, Kendellen, Prendergast. Replacements: Stewart, Milne, O'Toole, Izuchukwu, Deegan, Murphy, Frawley, Nash.
Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Experienced Stuart McCloskey hoping taking senior role on summer tour can help him push on to 2027 World Cup
Stuart McCloskey has a few more grey hairs since winning the Tbilisi Cup in 2015 on an Emerging Ireland side that included Andrew Conway, Finlay Bealham and Rob Herring.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McCloskey comfortable being Ireland's elder statesman
McCloskey made his Ireland debut in 2016 and played at the 2023 World Cup [Getty Images] When Stuart McCloskey last represented Ireland in Georgia, 10 years ago, his world looked a lot different. Fresh off winning Ulster's young player of the year award at the end of his first full season in senior rugby, he travelled with the Emerging Ireland squad for the now-defunct Tbilisi Cup in 2015. Advertisement Then just 22, McCloskey admits he was "pretty naive". Now, with nearly a decade of Test experience and over 200 Ulster caps under his belt, he has a "few more grey hairs" and knows "what I'm about these days". This much is true. Even within the controlled environment of a news conference, McCloskey is able to show that he is comfortable in his own skin. Finlay Bealham's British and Irish Lions call-up means he is the elder statesmen of interim head coach Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad. He jokes that Bealham "absolutely did me in" and admits O'Connell "gets a dig in most days about how old I am", but he seems happy being the only squad member to have celebrated his 30th birthday. Advertisement He also likes to tell Ulster team-mates Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney he will outlast them. "I'm happy to be the calm head," says McCloskey, who will turn 33 in August. "I feel like that's normally what I am in these teams no matter who's playing around me, but there's plenty of guys there like Craig [Casey] and Sam [Prendergast] who've run the backline very well over the last few weeks in here. "Sam's come in in the Six Nations and done very well so I'll just play off them, give them the space and hopefully they run in a few tries for us. During the last Lions tour in 2021, McCloskey furthered his case for a spot in the Ireland starting line-up with tries in wins over Japan and the United States. Advertisement Through no fault of his own, it hasn't quite panned out that way, but considering the constant presence of Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, 19 caps represents a solid return to this point for a player who was not offered a place in Ulster's academy after leaving Bangor Grammar. "I don't think I'm doing a lot wrong," he says. "I think when I've played I've went well, it's just there's four very good centres in the lads, two of them are away [Aki and Ringrose] and you could argue Robbie would've been away as well if he wasn't injured, so I don't think I'm too far off it. "What can I do better? Keep improving on a few things, probably a bit more physicality in defence, I think I've got most things in attack. Advertisement "[I'll try to] add a few more strings to my bow, whether that's breakdown or poach threat, but overall I don't think there's a lot in it. A few decisions go my way, I'm sitting here with a few more caps." Ulster's 19-17 win over Munster in 2014 was McCloskey's second start for the province [Getty Images] McCloskey, whose last Ireland start came against Italy in February 2024, is expected to partner Jamie Osborne in the midfield in Saturday's Test against Georgia. Osborne, 23, is known as one of Ireland's most versatile players. He can play at either inside or outside centre and started at full-back and right wing against Wales and France in this year's Six Nations. Advertisement "Jamie's been great. He's the kind of guy that slips into any position fairly well," said McCloskey. "You can play him anywhere over the backline and he'll do a great job. We've had a good combination going there the last couple of days. "He's physical, he's got all the skills and everything you'd want in a rugby player. I'm sure he'll go on and get a lot more caps under his belt over the next 10 years." As for himself, McCloskey wants to use the Georgia and Portugal games to stake his claim ahead of a glamorous autumn programme that includes Ireland's rematch against the All Blacks in Chicago and a home Test against double world champions South Africa. Advertisement That means impressing O'Connell, who he played against in the old Pro12 days. "Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out," McCloskey recalls of Ulster's 19-17 win at Thomond Park in May 2014. "I remember it very well. Michael Heaney scored a try, they were trying to get to second and we were fourth, couldn't go up or down, it was back in the Pro12 days and we got the win, I think it was my fourth cap." Perhaps he mentions it to O'Connell when the towering Irish icon brings us McCloskey's age? "No, but I like to think he knows it. I'm trying to get picked this week!"
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McCloskey comfortable being Ireland's elder statesman
When Stuart McCloskey last represented Ireland in Georgia, 10 years ago, his world looked a lot different. Fresh off winning Ulster's young player of the year award at the end of his first full season in senior rugby, he travelled with the Emerging Ireland squad for the now-defunct Tbilisi Cup in just 22, McCloskey admits he was "pretty naive" back then. Now, with nearly a decade of Test experience and over 200 Ulster caps under his belt, he has a "few more grey hairs" and knows "what I'm about these days". This much is true. Even within the controlled environment of a press conference, McCloskey is able to show that he is comfortable in his own Bealham's British and Irish Lions call-up means he is the elder statesmen of interim head coach Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad. He jokes that Bealham "absolutely did me in" and admits O'Connell "gets a dig in most days about how old I am", but he seems happy being the only squad member to have celebrated his 30th birthday. He also likes to tell Ulster team-mates Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney he will outlast them."I'm happy to be the calm head," says McCloskey, who will turn 33 in August."I feel like that's normally what I am in these teams no matter who's playing around me, but there's plenty of guys there like Craig [Casey] and Sam [Prendergast] who've run the backline very well over the last few weeks in here. "Sam's come in in the Six Nations and done very well so I'll just play off them, give them the space and hopefully they run in a few tries for us. During the last Lions tour in 2021, McCloskey furthered his case for a spot in the Ireland starting line-up with tries in wins over Japan and the United States. Through no fault of his own, it hasn't quite panned out that way, but considering the constant presence of Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, 19 caps represents a solid return to this point for a player who was not offered a place in Ulster's academy after leaving Bangor Grammar."I don't think I'm doing a lot wrong," he says. "I think when I've played I've went well, it's just there's four very good centres in the lads, two of them are away [Aki and Ringrose] and you could argue Robbie would've been away as well if he wasn't injured, so I don't think I'm too far off it. "What can I do better? Keep improving on a few things, probably a bit more physicality in defence, I think I've got most things in attack. "[I'll try to] add a few more strings to my bow, whether that's breakdown or poach threat, but overall I don't think there's a lot in it. A few decisions go my way, I'm sitting here with a few more caps." McCloskey, whose last Ireland start came against Italy in February 2024, is expected to partner Jamie Osborne in the midfield in Saturday's Test against Georgia. Osborne, 23, is known as one of Ireland's most versatile players. He can play at either inside or outside centre and started at full-back and right wing against Wales and France in this year's Six Nations. "Jamie's been great. He's the kind of guy that slips into any position fairly well," said McCloskey. "You can play him anywhere over the backline and he'll do a great job. We've had a good combination going there the last couple of days. "He's physical, he's got all the skills and everything you'd want in a rugby player. I'm sure he'll go on and get a lot more caps under his belt over the next 10 years."As for himself, McCloskey wants to use the Georgia and Portugal games to stake his claim ahead of a glamorous autumn programme that includes Ireland's rematch against the All Blacks in Chicago and a home Test against double world champions South means impressing O'Connell, who he played against in the old Pro12 days."Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out," McCloskey recalls of Ulster's 19-17 win at Thomond Park in May 2014. "I remember it very well. Michael Heaney scored a try, they were trying to get to second and we were fourth, couldn't go up or down, it was back in the Pro12 days and we got the win, I think it was my fourth cap."Perhaps he mentions it to O'Connell when the towering Irish icon brings us McCloskey's age?"No, but I like to think he knows it. I'm trying to get picked this week!"
Belfast Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Munster defeat ends Ulster's chances of qualifying for URC Play-Offs and next season's Champions Cup
8 minutes ago The full-time whistle sounds. Munster take a huge step towards booking a spot in the URC Play-Offs. However, Ulster's hopes look bleak. Technically, they still have an outside chance of making the Top Eight, but realistically it's not going to happen. This is Ulster's worst season the professional era, that was aptly summed up by that dreadful second half performance. 80' The last ten minutes of this game have passed by without incident. Munster secured the victory with that O'Mahoney try half an hour ago. 80' Tom Farrell is named Player of the Match 71' It is Munster's turn to lose a man to the bin as loose-head replacement Josh Wycherley is the unfortunate man to get punished for consecutive penalties 70' Ulster haven't been able to maintain their first half momentum, here. They've been outplayed in every department. Now they must face up to the reality of failing to qualify for the Champions Cup for the first time since the tournament's inception in 1995. 66' Ulster back up to 15 as Stuart McCloskey returns 61' Peter O'Mahoney leaves the field to a massive reception. What a moment for him 61' Tom Stewart is on for Rob Herring. 61' Two more for Crawley 61' It was a searching kick into the corner from Jack Crowley. O'Mahoney leaps into the air like a basketball player before dotting down in the corner. What a moment for the man who has served Munster for 15 years 60' It's a try for O'Mahoney in his last game at Thomond Park! 58' Ulster's hopes are hanging by a thread here. Munster are once against camped inside the Ulster 22 57' Crowley adds the extras 57' Farrell runs in Munster fifth try after the home side asserted pressure from the lineout. This looks like the end of Ulster's campaign. 55' It's a yellow card for Stuart McCloskey for professional foul. He kicks the ball away from the hands of the Munster scrum half, to prevent a try scoring opportunity. Munster have a penalty and will kick for the corner. O'Toole comes on for Wilson 46' Rob Herring smashes the ball out of Michael Milne's hands. It's a goal line drop out for Ulster, who survive this particular Munster barrage.
