Keith Earls
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| Earls playing for Munster | |||
| Full name | Keith Gerard Earls | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 October 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Moyross, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 90 kg | ||
| School | St. Munchin's College | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Ger Earls (father) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Centre, Fullback, Wing | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| Thomond Garryowen Young Munster |
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| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2007-present | Munster | 66 | (105) |
| correct as of 22 Jan 2012. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2007-2008 2008–present 2009 |
Ireland A Ireland Lions |
7 26 0 |
(25) (55) (0) |
| correct as of 9 Oct 2011. | |||
Keith Gerard Earls (born 2 October 1987 in Moyross, County Limerick) is an Irish rugby union footballer for Munster in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup. Internationally, Earls plays for Ireland, and he represented the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa. He plays as an Outside Centre, Winger or Fullback. He won a Munster Senior Cup medal with St. Munchin's.[1]
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[edit] Munster
Earls made his Munster debut against Ospreys in April 2007.[2] During the 2007/08 season, Earls was part of the Munster squad that beat Toulouse in the 2008 Heineken Cup Final.[3] In the 2008/09 season, Earls really made his mark in the Munster first team, scoring 10 tries, including 2 in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ospreys in May 2009[4] and a hat-trick in the Magners League against Newport Gwent Dragons in September 2008.[5] He played for Munster during their historic 15–6 win over Australia on 16 November 2010.[6] Earls was also part of the Munster team that beat Leinster to win the 2011 Magners League Grand Final.[7]
He injured his knee in the first minute of Munster's Rabo Direct Pro12 match against Leinster on 04 November 2011,[8] and was ruled out for 4-6 weeks.[9] He made his return against Scarlets in Munster's Heineken Cup Round 4 fixture on 18 December 2011.[10]
[edit] Ireland
Earls made his debut for Ireland in November 2008 against Canada in Thomond Park. He scored his first international try with his first touch of the ball.[11]
Earls was selected in Ireland's squad for the November Tests in 2009. He came on for the injured Luke Fitzgerald against Australia and started against Fiji, where he scored two tries, and against South Africa. He played in all 5 of Ireland's 2010 Six Nations Championship games, starting 4 of them. He scored a try against England and scored two more against Wales, finishing as joint top try scorer with Tommy Bowe, Shane Williams and James Hook.
He was selected in Ireland's squad for their 2010 Summer Tour to New Zealand and Australia, though he had to pull out of the squad due to a persistent groin injury. An ankle injury ruled him out of the beginning of the 2010/11 season. He was in the Ireland squad for the 2010 Autumn Tests, coming on against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina. He started every game for Ireland during the 2011 Six Nations Championship, four on the left-wing and one at full-back. He was selected in Ireland's squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August,[12] playing in both tests against France. He was selected in Ireland's final 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.[13] He started on the wing against US Eagles in Ireland's first Pool C game, and again against Australia during their historic 6-15 victory over the Wallabies. He was switched to outside-centre against Russia and scored two tries. He returned to the left-wing for Ireland's final Pool C game against Italy and, on his birthday, scored a brace of tries in the 36-6 win.[14] He scored his fifth World Cup try in Ireland's quarter-final defeat at the hands of Wales.[15] This total of five tries made him Ireland's top try scorer at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Earls was selected in Ireland's 24-man squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship.[16] He was named in the team to face Wales in the opening fixture,[17] but had to withdraw from the team when his recently-born daughter was taken ill. His place at outside centre was taken by Fergus McFadden.[18]
[edit] British and Irish Lions
On 21 April 2009, Earls was selected as part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.[19] He made his Lions debut on 30 May 2009, in a nervy, error-strewn performance against a South African Royal XV. A week later, against Currie Cup outfit the Free State Cheetahs, he put in a far improved showing, scoring an impressive try which ultimately proved crucial to the result, with the Lions coming through to win 26–24.[20] On 23 June 2009, he scored a try from fullback in a tour match against the Emerging Springboks. On receiving the ball at the out half position and stepping past three rushing defenders, he touched down for the Lions' only try in a 13–13 draw.[21] Earls also played against Western Province and Southern Kings in mid-week games, but he did not win any full Lions caps on the tour.
[edit] Influences
Keith has always pointed to his father, former Munster player Ger Earls, as a massive influence on his career. He has also stated frequently in interviews that he learnt a lot of his skills under the tutelage of past semi-pro Keith Michael Hollywood Hunston of Thomond, Bohemians and Abbeyfeale fame.
[edit] Personal life
Earls has a daughter, named Ella-Maye, with his partner Edel McGee.[22]
[edit] References
- ^ "St. Munchin's College win Munster Schools Senior Cup". munsterrugby.ie. 17 March 2006. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/3706.php. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ "No Joy For Munster At The Liberty". munsterrugby.ie. 8 April 2007. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/271.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Munster Fans Turn Cardiff Red". munsterrugby.ie. 23 May 2008. http://munsterrugby.ie/news/2445.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Heineken Cup Semi Secured". munsterrugby.ie. 12 April 2009. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/290.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Munster 50-6 Newport Gwent Dragons". munsterrugby.ie. 14 September 2008. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/match_centre.php?section=lineups&fixid=62764. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Class of 2010 Excel". munsterrugby.ie. 17 November 2010. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/8287.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Munster Crowned Magners League Champions". munsterrugby.ie. 28 May 2011. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/9094.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Scan For Earls Tomorrow". munsterrugby.ie. 6 November 2011. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9632.php. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ "Munster Squad For Northampton". munsterrugby.ie. 9 November 2011. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9644.php. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ "Earls Back In Munster Side". munsterrugby.ie. 15 December 2011. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9815.php. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ "Ireland 55-0 Canada". irishrugby.ie. 8 November 2008. http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/4635.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Horgan suffers Rugby World Cup blow". ESPN. 17 June 2011. http://www.espnscrum/ireland/rugby/story/141774.html. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Ireland Rugby World Cup Squad Announcement". irishrugby.ie. 22 August 2011. http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/23673.php. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup 2011: Ireland 36-6 Italy". BBC Sport (BBC). 2 October 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15058766.stm. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales 22-10 Ireland". BBC Sport (BBC). 8 October 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14830264.stm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "Ireland And O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Squads Announced". irishrugby.ie. 18 January 2012. http://www.irishrugby.ie/ireland/25402.php. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Ireland Team To Play Wales". irishrugby.ie. 1 February 2012. http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/25495.php. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Late Change To Ireland Team". irishrugby.ie. 3 February 2012. http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/25527.php. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "O'Connell to lead 14 Irish Lions". RTÉ Sport (RTÉ). 21 April 2009. http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2009/0421/lions.html. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ "Earls given nod for Lions opener". BBC Sport (BBC). 28 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8071404.stm. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ^ "Emerging Springboks 13-13 Lions". BBC Sport (BBC). 23 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8112859.stm. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Rugby takes back seat as Earls just wants baby daughter home". Irish Independent. 4 February 2012. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rugby-takes-back-seat-as-earls-just-wants-baby-daughter-home-3009995.html. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
[edit] External links
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