Cormac Izuchukwu Explained

Cormac Izuchukwu
Birth Date:2000 1, df=yes
Birth Place:London, England
Weight:117kg (258lb)
Ru Position:Lock
Amatteam1:Kelso RFC
Amatyears2:2022-2024
Amatteam2:Ballynahinch
Amatapps2:8
Amatpoints2:10
Years1:2020–
Clubs1:Ulster
Apps1:29
Points1:5
Ru Clubupdate:8 June 2024
Repyears1:2019
2022
Repteam1:Ireland Sevens
Emerging Ireland
Repcaps1:2
1
Ru Ntupdate:15 October 2022
School:Roscrea College

Cormac Izuchukwu (born 28 January 2000) is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.

He was born in London to an Irish mother and Nigerian father. He moved to Offaly when he was 7 where he and his brother and sister were raised by their mother.[1] He started playing rugby with Tullamore RFC in Offaly, before going to Roscrea College,[2] where he played for the first XV in the Leinster Schools Cup quarter-finals.[1] He was offered an opportunity to try out for Connacht at under-19 level, but twisted his ankle and was unable to attend. He signed up for a coaching course in Kelso, Scotland, which included training with Newcastle Falcons. The resulting highlights video came to the attention of Anthony Eddy at the IRFU, who signed him up for Ireland Sevens.[3] He represented Ireland at two sevens competitions in 2019.[4] [5]

He joined the Ulster academy ahead of the 2020–21 season, and made his Ulster debut coming in the 63rd minute of 21―7 victory over Ospreys on 26 February 2021.[6] He played in the subsequent games against Glasgow Warriors and Leinster when he received a yellow card.[7] He signed a two-year contract with the province in April 2021.[8] He was selected for the Emerging Ireland squad for the Toyota Challenge in South Africa in September 2022.[9] He was a squad player for Ulster under Dan McFarland, but became a regular starter in the back row in the second half of the 2023–24 season under new head coach Richie Murphy,[10] and his form saw him called up to the Ireland squad for their two-match tour of South Africa in July 2024.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'That's all I knew, the area I lived in wasn't the most affluent area'. 2021-03-08. www.msn.com.
  2. News: Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy squad for 2020/21 season is named. Ulster Rugby. 12 May 2020. 21 June 2020. 21 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621234009/https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2020/05/abbey-insurance-ulster-rugby-academy-squad-for-2020-21-season-is-named/. dead.
  3. John O'Sullivan, "Cormac Izuchukwu ready to take a giant step with Ulster", The Irish Times, 19 June 2020
  4. News: Ulster flyer Sexton in men's squad as Ireland 7s sides head for Spain. The42. 4 November 2019. 21 June 2020.
  5. News: Izuchukwu takes the road less travelled on his rugby journey. Ulster Rugby. 20 May 2020. 21 June 2020.
  6. Web site: Ulster overcome Ospreys but miss out on bonus point . the42 . 26 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Ulster v Leinster - Rugby Union. 2021-03-08. BBC Sport. en-GB.
  8. Adam McKendry, "Academy lock Izuchukwu agrees upgraded two-year deal as Roberts signs first pro contract with Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 16 April 2021
  9. https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/09/14/emerging-ireland-squad-named-for-toyota-challenge-in-bloemfontein/ "Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Toyota Challenge In Bloemfontein"
  10. Rory Keane, "Ulster’s breakout flanker Izuchukwu storms into Ireland mix", Extra.ie, 6 June 2024
  11. https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/07/08/ireland-squad-update-11/ "Ireland Squad Update"