Kylem O'Donnell
| Full name | Kylem Francis Te Riri O'Donnell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 August 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Thames, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb; 201 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hamilton Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Declan O'Donnell (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kylem Francis Te Riri O'Donnell (born 1 August 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Template:Rut Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup.[1][2] He is also a former All Blacks Sevens representative.[3]
Early career
Raised in Waikato, O'Donnell attended Hamilton Boys' High School along with younger brother Declan, who also went on to become a professional rugby player. Unable to earn a provincial contract in Waikato, O'Donnell shifted to Taranaki in 2009. After a good local season with the Clifton Rugby club, he made his debut for the Bulls in a match against Template:Rut Counties Manukau in Pukekohe.[1][3]
Senior career
O'Donnell spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons with Taranaki and during that time his appearances were largely confined to cameos from the replacements bench. He didn't make the Bulls squad for the 2011 ITM Cup and eventually shifted back to Waikato, for whom he made 7 appearances in 2013. Again he couldn't make their squad for the following season and after a year away from provincial rugby, he returned to Taranaki in 2015, providing cover for the injured Jamison Gibson-Park. His real breakthrough in the 15-man game came in 2016 when he was able to win the starting number 9 jersey at Taranaki from Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and put in a series of good performances in a season which saw the Bulls reach the Premiership semi-finals.[4]
Super Rugby
After a long and meandering provincial career, O'Donnell finally landed a Super Rugby contract with the defending champions, the Template:Rut Hurricanes in 2017.[1]
International
O'Donnell was an All Blacks Sevens representative from 2011 until 2012, competing in 5 World Rugby Sevens Series events and scoring 3 tries.[3][4]
References
- ^ a b c "Hurricanes 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Kylem O'Donnell Taranaki Player Profile". TRFU. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Young half Kylem O'Donnell making an impact". Rugby Heaven. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Kylem O'Donnell itsrugby Player Statistics". it's rugby. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- 1989 births
- Living people
- New Zealand rugby union players
- Rugby union scrum-halves
- Taranaki rugby union players
- Waikato Rugby Union players
- People educated at Hamilton Boys' High School
- New Zealand people of Irish descent
- New Zealand international rugby sevens players
- New Zealand male rugby sevens players
- People from Thames, New Zealand