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David Shanahan (rugby union)

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David Shanahan
Birth nameDavid Shanahan
Date of birth (1993-06-20) 20 June 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight77 kg (12 st 2 lb)
SchoolBelvedere College
UniversityQueen's University Belfast
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Ulster
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Ballymena ()
2022-23 Malone 2 (12)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013– Ulster 94 (75)
Correct as of 5 October 2024

David Shanahan (born 20 June 1993) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays scrum-half for Ulster.

He attended Belvedere College in Dublin,[1] and played for Ireland at U18, U19 and U20 level, but did not win a place in the Leinster academy. Ulster's then forwards coach Allen Clarke, who had coached him at under-age international level, persuaded him to join Ulster's academy, and he was assigned to club side Ballymena[2] while studying at Queen's University Belfast.[3]

He made his debut for Ulster while still in the academy in 2013,[4] and his first start in 2017, in place of the injured Ruan Pienaar.[5] Under coach Dan McFarland, he has mainly acted as backup to John Cooney.[6]

Ulster describe him as "a livewire scrum-half known for his speed, excellent support lines, and try-scoring ability".[7] Out-half Ian Madigan calls him "Ulster's unsung hero".[8]

References

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  1. ^ Des Berry, "Ex-Belvedere scrum-half Shanahan to make first start", Irish Independent, 14 January 2017
  2. ^ Ciaran Donaghy, "Shanahan making good progress to maintain his position on radar", Belfast Newsletter, 25 September 2014
  3. ^ Dave Shanahan profile at RTÉ Sport
  4. ^ "Ulster Rugby squad: Injured Nick Williams and Ian Porter ruled out of Edinburgh match", Belfast Telegraph, 22 November 2013
  5. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "Youngster Shanahan handed his first start in win or bust clash", Belfast Telegraph, 14 January 2017
  6. ^ "'I have eight minutes, I'd better not screw up': Shanahan powering through pivotal season", The42, 22 March 2019
  7. ^ "Shanahan, Postlethwaite and Moxham commit to Ulster as Moore signs on", Ulster. Rugby, 1 February 2022
  8. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "Flashbacks, free weekends and fans - Five talking points from Ulster's friendly defeat to Saracens", Belfast Telegraph, 4 September 2021
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