Eric O'Sullivan

Eric O'Sullivan
Date of birth (1995-11-30) 30 November 1995 (age 28)
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb; 258 lb)
SchoolTempleogue College
UniversityTrinity College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
20–2017 Dublin University ()
2017– Banbridge 18 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Ulster 120 (10)
Correct as of 26 October 2024[2]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020– Ireland 1 (0)
Correct as of 5 December 2020

Eric O'Sullivan (born 30 November 1995) is an Irish rugby union player who plays loosehead prop for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster and internationally for Ireland.

Born in Dublin, O'Sullivan attended Templeogue College and Trinity College, where he completed a business studies course.[3][4] He played in the back row at school, and converted to the front row at Trinity.[5]

O'Sullivan represented his native Leinster at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, but missed out on a place in Leinster's academy. Strong performances for Dublin University in the All-Ireland League caught the attention of Ulster and, after an appearance for Ulster's 'A' side in early 2017, He joined the Ulster academy.[6][7]

He made his senior debut for Ulster off the bench in their 15–13 win against Welsh side Scarlets in the opening round of the 2018–19 Pro14 on 1 September 2018,[3] and made his first start for the province in their 39–39 draw against South African side Cheetahs on 21 September 2018.[8] He made 26 appearances, including 16 starts, and made 251 tackles, while still an academy player, in 2018–19,[9] and was named Young Player of the Year in the 2019 Ulster Rugby Awards.[10] He signed his first senior contract with Ulster in February 2019.[11] He made 18 appearances, including 10 starts, in 2019–20.[2]

He made 21 appearances, including 16 starts, and 155 tackles, in 2020–21.[12][13] He made his 50th appearance for Ulster in November 2020.[14] He made his debut for Ireland against Scotland in the Autumn Nations Cup on 5 December 2020, replacing Cian Healy.[15] At the end of the season he was named in the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team.[16]

In the 2021–22 season, he has made 17 appearances, including 7 starts.[2]

He was appointed scrum coach of Ulster Women in July 2023.[17]

  1. ^ "Ulster Rugby | Senior Team". Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Eric O'SULLIVAN - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b "O'Sullivan rising through the ranks". Ulster Rugby. 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Abbey Insurance Academy Profile: Eric O'Sullivan". Ulster Rugby. 15 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  5. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "How Eric O'Sullivan went from Leinster rejection to his first Ireland cap as Ulster loosehead's rugby rise continue", Belfast Telegraph, 5 December 2020
  6. ^ "Eric O'Sullivan savouring his remarkable rise through Ulster's ranks". Belfast Telegraph. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Eric O'Sullivan: Ulster academy prop enjoying breakout season". BBC Sport. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Toyota Cheetahs 39 Ulster 39". Ulster Rugby. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. ^ Ulster Men: Who did what 2018-19, The From Row Union, 18 July 2019
  10. ^ Darren Fullerton, "2019 Ulster Rugby Awards: Retiring captain Rory Best is named Heineken Personality of the Year", Belfast Live, 9 May 2019
  11. ^ "Academy trio commit futures to Ulster". Ulster Rugby. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  12. ^ Ulster 2020-21 - Who Did What?, The Front Row Union, 12 August 2021
  13. ^ Don’t Cry In Front Of The Mexicans: Ulster’s 2020-21 Season (And How They Must Keep Twirling, Twirling, Twirling Towards Freedom in 2021-22), Digging Like a Demented Mole, 28 June 2021
  14. ^ Ciaran Donaghy, "Eric O’Sullivan hungry for more after reaching milestone 50th cap for Ulster", News Letter, 11 November 2020
  15. ^ "Earls double helps Ireland to end 2020 on a positive note with win over Scotland". the42. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  16. ^ "The Media Votes are in - Who made the Guinness PRO14 Dream Team?", Pro14, 1 April 2021
  17. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "I’m excited by potential of Ulster Women’s side, says province’s new coach Murray Houston", Belfast Telegraph, 18 July 2023