Keith Wood

Keith Wood
Birth nameKeith Gerard Mallinson Wood
Date of birth (1972-01-27) 27 January 1972 (age 52)
Place of birthKillaloe, County Clare, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb)
SchoolSt Munchin's College
Notable relative(s)Gordon Wood (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1991–1994 Garryowen ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1995–1999
1999–2000
2000–2003
Harlequins
Munster
Harlequins

23
65

(30)
(48)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994–2003
1997, 2001
Ireland
British & Irish Lions
58
5
(75)
(0)

Keith Wood (born 27 January 1972) is an Irish former rugby union player who played as a hooker at international level for Ireland, and the British & Irish Lions. He also played at club level for Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster. He was nicknamed 'The Raging Potato' because of his bald head, and as 'Uncle Fester' due to his resemblance to the character in The Addams Family.[1] Wood is considered by many to have been the best hooker in rugby union during his era, winning the inaugural World Rugby Player of the Year award, and to be among the best hookers in the history of the game.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ "The Claw ready to tackle Uncle Fester". Evening Standard. 4 October 2001. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Ranking the 10 Best Hookers in Rugby History - Page 3 of 3". 14 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Opinion: The Greatest Six Nations XV of All Time". 30 January 2016.
  4. ^ "World's greatest ever XV: The best ever rugby team in pictures". 14 August 2020.