Michael Bent

This article is about the Irish and New Zealand rugby player. For the actor and former heavyweight boxer, see Michael Bentt.

Michael Bent

Birth name	Michael Ryan Bent
Date of birth	(1986-04-25) 25 April 1986
Place of birth	Hāwera, New Zealand
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	120 kg (19 st; 260 lb)
School	Hawera High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2012– Dublin University () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2009–2012 2012– Taranaki Leinster 49 150 (0) (30) Correct as of 2 January 2021 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2012 Hurricanes 11 (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2014 2013–2015 2012–2015 Emerging Ireland Ireland Wolfhounds Ireland 3 2 4 (0) (0) (0) Correct as of 15 August 2015

Michael Bent (born 25 April 1986 in Hāwera, New Zealand) is a New Zealand born Irish rugby union player who can play as a tight or loosehead prop. He currently plays for Leinster in the Pro14 and represents Ireland at international level. He previously represented Taranaki in the ITM Cup, and spent two seasons with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. He made his debut for Ireland against South Africa in the 2012 autumn international series.

Domestic career

At the age of 23 Bent was selected for the Taranaki team as a versatile prop – playing both Tight and Loosehead positions.

Bent made three pre-season appearances and five competition appearances in the 2011 Super 15 season for the Hurricanes. After playing his first games for the Hurricanes, Bent linked up with Taranaki in the 2011 ITM Cup. Playing on both sides of the scrum, Bent was a key cog in Taranaki's third place ITM Cup finish and Ranfurly Shield winning season.

After being used as nothing more than a bit part player for the Hurricanes in 2012, Bent returned to Taranaki and played in every one of the side's 13 first-class matches. While he was used extensively as a loosehead prop in 2011, Bent showed his versatility by making the No 3 jersey his own in a campaign that saw Taranaki defend the Ranfurly Shield six times and win seven of their 10 regular season national provincial championship fixtures. He developed his game this season, improving his defence, mobility and ball carrying. As well as the player of the year, Bent was named the sportsman of the year - the players' player of the year - who best demonstrated excellence on and off the field. Surprisingly, and an anomaly of the awards, Bent was not named forward of the year by the selection panel made up of the Taranaki management team. Instead, that prize went to No 8 Blade Thomson.

Leinster and Ireland

In late October 2012 Bent arrived in Ireland to join Leinster. He was immediately drafted into the Ireland squad for their November Internationals. He qualifies to play for Ireland through his Irish grandmother, and made his debut against South Africa on 10 November 2012 at Lansdowne Road.

External links

• Hurricanes profile
• Leinster profile
• Pro14 profile
• Michael Bent at European Professional Club Rugby