Alex McHenry explained

Alex McHenry
Birth Date:1997 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Cork, Ireland
Weight:95kg (209lb)
Ru Position:Centre
Amatyears1:2016–2022
Amatteam1:Cork Constitution
Years1:2019–2022
Clubs1:Munster
Apps1:3
Points1:5
Years2:2021
Clubs2:Wasps (loan)
Apps2:4
Points2:0
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Jersey Reds
Apps3:19
Points3:30
Clubupdate:29 April 2023
Repyears1:2017
Repteam1:Ireland U20
Repcaps1:1
Reppoints1:0
Ru Ntupdate:24 February 2017
Ru Sevensnationalyears1:2017–2018
Ru Sevensnationalteam1:Ireland 7s
School:Christian Brothers College
University:University College Cork

Alex McHenry (born 7 October 1997) is an Irish rugby union player for RFU Championship club Jersey Reds. He plays as a centre.

Early life

Born in Cork, McHenry won the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2016 with Christian Brothers College, alongside former Munster teammate Liam Coombes.[1] Prior to this, McHenry had captained Munster under-19s to inter-provincial success in 2015, and also represented Munster under-18 Schools and Ireland under-19s.[2]

Career

Cork Constitution

McHenry was part of the Cork Con team that won a treble during the 2016–17 season, winning the All-Ireland League, All-Ireland Cup and Munster Senior Cup,[2] as well as winning a second Senior Cup and All-Ireland League during the 2018–19 season,[3] [4] and a third Senior Cup during the 2019–20 season.[5]

Munster

McHenry made his debut for Munster A against English RFU Championship side Doncaster Knights in round 6 of the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup on 13 January 2017.[6] Munster A won the match 24–16 to secure a home quarter-final in the tournament,[7] which they eventually won by defeating Jersey Reds 29–28 in the final in April 2017, though McHenry was not part of the team on the day.[8] He went on to then join the Munster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season.[2] McHenry played in all 6 of Munster A's fixtures during the 2018–19 Celtic Cup,[9] and also played for the 'A' team in their 38–19 win against Major League Rugby side New England Free Jacks in the Cara Cup in April 2019.[10]

Following the win against New England, McHenry, along with other teammates from the 'A' team, were recalled to join up with the senior squad,[11] and he was subsequently named as a replacement for the 2018–19 Pro14 round 20 fixture against Italian side Benetton on 12 April 2019.[12] McHenry made his senior competitive debut for Munster when he came on as a replacement for Sammy Arnold during the match, which Munster won 37–28.[13] He joined the Munster senior squad on a one-year contract ahead of the 2020–21 season[14] and extended that deal by a further year in February 2021.[15] McHenry scored his first try for Munster in their 31–17 win against Italian side Benetton in round 16 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 19 March 2021.[16] McHenry left Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season.[17]

Loan to Wasps

McHenry joined English Premiership Rugby club Wasps on loan in October 2021, providing cover for the injured Malakai Fekitoa.[18] He made his debut for the club in their 56–15 defeat against Saracens in round 6 of the 2021–22 Premiership Rugby season on 24 October 2021.[19]

Jersey Reds

McHenry joined RFU Championship club Jersey Reds ahead of the 2022–23 season,[20] and won the Championship in his first season with the club.[21]

Ireland

McHenry won his first cap for Ireland under-20s in their 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship clash with France on 24 February 2017, which Ireland won 27–22.[2] [22] He also featured for the Ireland 7s team during the 2017–18 season.[9]

Honours

Christian Brothers College

Cork Constitution

Jersey Reds

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: CBC Win Their 29th Schools Senior Cup Title. 13 March 2016. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  2. News: Getting To Know Our New Academy Recruits. 27 June 2017. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  3. News: Report Cork Con Regain BOI Munster Senior Challenge Cup. 6 January 2019. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  4. News: Cork Con seal second AIL title in three years with Aviva victory over Clontarf. 5 May 2019. The42. 6 May 2019.
  5. News: Report Cork Con Secure 30th Munster Senior Challenge Cup Title. 20 December 2019. Munster Rugby. 21 December 2019.
  6. News: Munster A Named For B&I Cup In Bandon. 12 January 2017. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  7. News: Munster A Secure Home Quarter Final. 13 January 2017. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  8. News: Munster A Claim B&I Cup Title After Cork Rollercoaster. 21 April 2017. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  9. News: Alex McHenry Munster Academy Profile. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  10. News: Munster A Defeat New England Free Jacks. 7 April 2019. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  11. News: Squad Update Pre Benetton Rugby. 8 April 2019. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  12. News: Team Named Munster Side To Face Benetton Rugby. 11 April 2019. Munster Rugby. 12 April 2019.
  13. News: Report Munster Battle For Bonus Point Win Against Benetton. 13 April 2019. Munster Rugby. 13 April 2019.
  14. News: Six Players Commit To Munster. 27 January 2020. Munster Rugby. 27 January 2020.
  15. News: Player Contract Extensions Confirmed. 18 February 2021. Munster Rugby. 20 February 2021.
  16. News: Report Munster Make It Six Wins In A Row. 19 March 2021. Munster Rugby. 19 March 2021.
  17. News: Munster Rugby Departing Players Confirmed. 10 June 2022. Munster Rugby. 10 June 2022.
  18. News: Wasps: Alex McHenry & Paddy Harrison join on short-term deals. 14 October 2021. BBC Sport. 15 October 2021.
  19. News: Wasps player ratings from Saracens loss: 'Sign him up'. 24 October 2021. Coventry Telegraph. 26 October 2021.
  20. News: Reds quintet of new signings brings Reds' squad close to completion. 17 June 2022. Jersey Reds. 17 June 2022.
  21. News: Jersey Reds win RFU Championship title after 43-15 win over Ampthill. 29 April 2023. BBC Sport. 1 May 2023.
  22. News: Three-Try First Half Inspires Ireland U-20s' Third Win. 24 February 2017. Irish Rugby. 12 April 2019.