| Kevin O'Byrne | |
| Birth Date: | 1991 4, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Cork, Ireland |
| Weight: | 105kg (231lb) |
| Ru Position: | Hooker |
| Amatteam1: | UCC |
| Amatteam2: | Highfield |
| Amatteam3: | UL Bohemians |
| Amatteam4: | Cork Constitution |
| Years1: | 2014–2022 |
| Clubs1: | Munster |
| Apps1: | 90 |
| Points1: | 40 |
| Years2: | 2022– |
| Clubs2: | Ealing |
| Apps2: | 2 |
| Points2: | 0 |
| Clubupdate: | 11 February 2023 |
| School: | Presentation Brothers College |
Kevin O'Byrne (born 16 April 1991) is an Irish rugby union player for English club Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship. He plays as a hooker.
He captained the Munster under-18s club side during the 2008–09 inter-provincials and was part of Highfield under-18s All-Ireland winning squad in 2009.[1]
O'Byrne made his Munster debut on 5 September 2014, starting against Edinburgh in the first game of the 2014–15 Pro12 season.[2] He signed a one-year development contract with Munster in March 2015.[3] On 3 September 2016, O'Byrne went off injured in Munster's 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Scarlets. He was subsequently ruled out for 3 months with an elbow injury.[4]
O'Byrne made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut for Munster on 21 October 2017, doing so when he came on as a replacement for Rhys Marshall in the round 2 fixture against Racing 92.[5] [6] He scored his first try for Munster on 3 November 2017, having come on as a replacement in the 2017–18 Pro14 fixture against Welsh side Dragons, which Munster won 49–6.[7]
He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in January 2018.[8] He earned the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 30–26 away win against South African side Cheetahs during the 2018–19 Pro14 on 4 November 2018.[9] O'Byrne won his 50th cap for Munster in their opening 2019–20 Pro14 fixture against Welsh side Dragons on 28 September 2019, a match Munster won 39–9.[10]
He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in March 2020, a deal that will see O'Byrne remain with the province until at least June 2022.[11] O'Byrne was rewarded for a series of strong performances by being named in the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team.[12] O'Byrne will depart Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season.[13]
O'Byrne will join English RFU Championship side Ealing Trailfinders from the 2022–23 season.[13]
Individual