| Jack O'Sullivan | |
| Birth Date: | 1998 10, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Cork, Ireland |
| Weight: | 100kg (200lb) |
| Position: | Back-row |
| Amatteam1: | UCC |
| Years1: | 2019– |
| Clubs1: | Munster |
| Apps1: | 37 |
| Points1: | 30 |
| Clubupdate: | 01 March 2024 |
| Repyears1: | 2018 |
| Repteam1: | Ireland U20 |
| Repcaps1: | 5 |
| Reppoints1: | 20 |
| Repupdate: | 16 March 2018 |
| Relatives: | Billy Scannell (cousin) Niall Scannell (cousin) Rory Scannell (cousin) Donal O'Sullivan (grandfather)[1] |
| School: | Presentation Brothers College |
| University: | University College Cork |
Jack O'Sullivan (born 1 October 1998) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number eight for United Rugby Championship club Munster.
Born in Cork, O'Sullivan attended Presentation Brothers College, where he enjoyed a successful schools rugby career, winning the Schools Bowen Shield,[2] the Munster Schools Junior Cup in 2014,[3] and captaining the school to victory in the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup final in 2017, alongside future Munster teammates Seán French and Jonathan Wren.[4] Whilst still only in his fourth year, O'Sullivan featured for Ireland under-18 schools, and won representation for Munster at under-18 and under-19 level, as well as touring France with the Ireland under-19s squad in 2017.[2] He is the cousin of Munster players Niall and Rory Scannell,[5] and of Biarritz player Billy Scannell, and is studying finance at University College Cork.[6]
Following his exploits with Presentation Brothers College at school level, O'Sullivan joined the Munster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season,[7] and he made his debut for Munster A during the 2017–18 British and Irish Cup against English side Bedford Blues in December 2017.[2] After returning from a long-term knee injury sustained whilst on international duty with Ireland under-20s, O'Sullivan was selected in the Munster A squad for the Cara Cup, a tournament hosted in Weymouth, Massachusetts,[8] starting in the 38–19 win against New England Free Jacks on 6 April 2019.[9]
O'Sullivan made his senior competitive debut for Munster on 28 September 2019, featuring as a replacement in the provinces opening 2019–20 Pro14 fixture against Welsh side Dragons in Thomond Park,[10] and he made his first start for the province in their 28–12 win against Welsh side Ospreys on 25 October 2019.[11] O'Sullivan made his European debut for Munster in their final pool 4 fixture of the 2019–20 Champions Cup against Welsh side Ospreys on 19 January 2020.[12] He joined the Munster senior squad on a three-year contract ahead of the 2020–21 season.[13] In Munster's 29–10 win against Welsh side Scarlets during round 13 of the 2019–20 Pro14 on 29 February 2020, O'Sullivan scored his first try for the province,[14] and he won the John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year for his performances during the 2019–20 season.[15] O'Sullivan signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in January 2022.[16]
Selected in the Ireland under-20s for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[17] O'Sullivan started against France,[18] Italy,[19] Wales,[20] Scotland,[21] and England,[22] scoring four tries and earning two Man-of-the-Match awards during the tournament.[6] O'Sullivan again won selection for the under-20s, this time for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,[23] but he suffered a knee injury just days after being selected, which ruled him out of the tournament.[24]