Sam Prendergast
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| Date of birth | 12 February 2003[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Kildare, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14.3 st; 201 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Newbridge College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | TUD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Cian Prendergast (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Prendergast (born 12 February 2003) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Leinster Rugby as of the 2022–23 season and represents Lansdowne in the amateur All-Ireland League.[2]
Early life
[edit]Prendergast attended Newbridge College in Newbridge, County Kildare where he played as a scrum-half before he had a growth spurt. He played in 2020 as the school secured a place in the Leinster Senior Schools Cup final against Clongowes Wood. However, the final was never played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Club career
[edit]Prendergast played his club rugby at Newbridge RFC and Lansdowne FC and joined the Leinster Rugby academy in 2022.[4]
Prendergast was selected for the Leinster first team in the United Rugby Championship against the Lions on Saturday April 15, 2023.[5] He was awarded player of the match for his debut performance which involved successfully kicking six out of seven attempts including a late penalty with the scores tied to secure the win for his side.[6]
On 8 December 2024, he scored two tries and five conversions in the opening round of the 2024–25 Champions Cup as Leinster went to beat Bristol Bears 35-12 at Ashton Gate.[7] The following week he won man of the match in the opening home game of the campaign beating Clermont Auvergne 15–7.[8]
International career
[edit]Under-20 team
[edit]Prendergast kicked a late long-distance penalty to clinch a series victory for Ireland under-20s over England over-20s in July 2022.[9] He kicked another late penalty in February 2023 as Ireland under-20s beat France under-20s in the 2023 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[10] He was singled out for praise for his performances during the tournament.[11] Praise has also come from former Ireland international Andrew Trimble,[12] former New Zealand international Sonny Bill Williams,[13] and he was identified by BBC Sport as one of the stars of the 2023 under-20 Six Nations tournament.[14] He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship held in South Africa in June and July 2023.[15]
Men's team
[edit]Prendergast was selected for the 2024 Six Nations squad[16] as a training panellist, alongside Munster players Oli Jager and Thomas Ahern. The three did not participate in any test matches during the 2024 Six Nations Championship, however they were included in pre-tournament training camps.
He was called up to the senior Ireland squad for the 2024 Autumn internationals.[17] He made his senior debut as a second half replacement for Ireland's match against Argentina on 15 November 2024.[18] He was named in the starting XV for his first senior international start for Irelands match against Fiji on 23 November 2024.[19] During his first international start, a 52-17 win, he was sin binned for a high tackle before scoring five conversions and having the opportunity to play alongside his brother for the first time at international level as he came off the bench.[20]
Style of play
[edit]Gerry Thornley in The Irish Times compared Prendergast with Stephen Larkham due to his “tall, languid style and passing range”.[21]
Personal life
[edit]He is the younger brother of Connacht Rugby and Ireland Rugby international Cian Prendergast.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sam Prendergast". Irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Sam PRENDERGAST". All.Rugby. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ O’Brien, Brenden (2 February 2023). "Sam Prendergast ready to take his shot with Ireland U20s". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "MEET THE ACADEMY – YEAR ONE 2022/23". Leinsterrugby.ie. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ Tracey, Cian (14 April 2023). "Exciting Ireland U-20s Grand Slam winning out-half Sam Prendergast set for Leinster debut". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ Stanley, Colman (15 April 2023). "Player Of The Match Sam Prendergast Wins It For Leinster At The Death". Balls.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Champions Cup: Leinster outclass Bristol with ruthless second-half display - reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "Champions Cup: Harlequins v Stormers, La Rochelle v Bristol - radio commentaries". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ O’Connor, Sean (2 February 2023). "'Six Nations will be a step up' – Sam Prendergast eyes winning start in Wales with Ireland U-20 side". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ Walsh, Denis (10 February 2023). "Ireland v France U20s: Late Sam Prendergast penalty seals victory in pulsating encounter". Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Sam Prendergast leads the Irish resurgence". Ultimate Rugby. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ Harte, Eoin (4 February 2023). "Andrew Trimble reserves high praise for Ireland U20s star Sam Prendergast". Punditarena. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "The talented brother of an Ireland international who is admired by Sonny Bill Williams". the42.ie. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ Telfer, Alastair (15 March 2023). "Under-20 Six Nations: Who are the stars of this year's tournament". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Ireland Squad Named For World Rugby U20 Championship". Irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Irish Rugby | Farrell Selects 34-Player Squad For Guinness Men's Six Nations". Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ Raisey, Josh (22 October 2024). "Caelan Doris to lead Ireland as two uncapped rising stars make 35-man squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Andy Farrell explains Ireland selection of rookie Sam Prendergast". Rugby Pass. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "McCarthy and Izuchukwu handed Ireland debuts in Fiji test". Sky Sports. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Ireland pick up big win against Fiji - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ Thornley, Gerry (14 April 2023). "Gerry Thornley: Clear statement of faith in Sam Prendergast as he makes first Leinster start". Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ Mccarry, Patrick. ""Proud moment" - Cian Prendergast on little brother, Sam's Ireland U20 heroics". sportsjoe.ie. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
External links
[edit]Sam Prendergast at European Professional Club Rugby
- Sam Prendergast at Irish Rugby Football Union
- Sam Prendergast at ItsRugby.co.uk
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