Eoghan Grace | |
Birth Date: | 1987 10, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Clonmel, Ireland |
Weight: | 100kg (200lb) |
Ru Position: | Flanker |
Ru Amateurclubs: | Shannon |
Ru Clubyears: | 2010–2011 2011–2013 2013–2015 2015–2016 2016–2017 2017–2018 |
Ru Proclubs: | Exeter Chiefs Connacht Plymouth Albion Ealing Coventry Plymouth Albion |
Ru Clubcaps: | 2 11 32 |
Ru Clubpoints: | (0) (0) (35) |
Ru Nationalyears: | 2007 |
Ru Nationalteam: | Ireland U20 |
Ru Nationalcaps: | 1 |
Ru Nationalpoints: | (0) |
School: | Rockwell College |
Eoghan Grace (born 6 October 1987) is an Irish former rugby union player.
Grace began his professional rugby career as a member of his native province Munster's academy, and during that time he won a grand slam with the Ireland under-20s team during the 2007 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and an All-Ireland League Division 1 title with Shannon in 2008–09.[1] However, Grace was unable to break into Munster's senior squad, and he moved to England to join Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2010–11 season.[2] Grace's time with the Devon club was hampered by an achilles injury,[3] and after one season with Exeter, Grace returned to Ireland to join Connacht. He stayed with the western province for two seasons, which were also hampered by injury,[3] before returning to Devon to join Plymouth Albion,[4] where he lodged with fellow former Munsterman Declan Cusack.[5]
After two seasons with Plymouth, Grace joined another RFU Championship side, Ealing Trailfinders, for the 2015–16 season.[6] At the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Grace signed for Coventry[7] and was appointed co-captain of the club,[3] before ending his career back with Plymouth, whilst also coaching in the club's academy and community programme.[3] After rugby, Grace began running two companies; Eolas+, a not-for-profit that goes into primary schools and runs holiday camps in the south-west of England to get children involved in sports, and Pro Rugby Academy, which works with aspiring rugby players who have missed out on contracts with professional clubs.[3]