Tadhg Leader Explained

Tadhg Leader
Birth Date:1992 3, df=y
Birth Place:Galway, Ireland
Height:1890NaN0
Weight:930NaN0
Education:Cistercian College
Alma Mater:Lindenwood University Lasell University (MBA)
Relatives:Darragh Leader (brother)
Module:
Embed:yes
Position:Placekicker
Pastteams:
Cflstatus:Global
Cfl:tadhg-leader/166367/
Module2:
Embed:yes
Position:Fly-half
Currentclub:New England Free Jacks
Youthclubs1:Galwegians
Ru Amateuryears:2014–2015
2015
2016–2017
Ru Amateurclubs:Rugby Badia ASD
Lindenwood Lions
St. Louis Royals
Years1:2011–2014
Years2:2018
Clubs2:San Diego Legion
Apps2:7
Points2:42
Years3:2018–present
Clubs3:New England Free Jacks
Apps3:2
Points3:11
Years4:2019
Clubs4:→ New Orleans Gold (loan)
Apps4:1
Points4:0
Clubupdate:12 December 2020
Repyears1:2011
Repteam1:Ireland U19
Repyears2:2012
Repteam2:Ireland U20
Repyears3:2019–
Repteam3:United States
Repcaps3:2
Reppoints3:11
Ru Ntupdate:12 December 2020

Tadhg Leader (born 1 March 1992) is an Irish-born rugby union player and gridiron football placekicker.

He has also played for American professional rugby union club New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR). Leader was born and raised in Ireland, but after living in the United States for several years, qualified to play for the United States national rugby union team. His primary position is at fly-half, though he has also played at inside center.

Early life

Born in Galway, Leader grew up in Castlegar, just outside the city. He is a past pupil of the Bish, one of the city's secondary schools, and the Cistercian College in Roscrea. Leader is the older brother of current Connacht player Darragh Leader. Greg, the eldest brother, played for the province at underage level. Their parents were also heavily involved in sport, with their mother, Breda, serving as secretary for Rowing Ireland and their father, Noel, having played for and served as president of the Galwegians rugby club, where Leader first played the sport.[1]

Club career

Connacht

Leader graduated secondary school and signed for the Connacht academy in 2011. Later that year, Leader played an integral role in the Connacht under-20 grand slam winning team.[2] Leader was brought into the Connacht senior squad for the 2012–13 season.[3] Leader made multiple appearances for the Connacht Eagles in the British and Irish Cup.[4] After multiple injury setbacks Leader left Connacht and signed with Italian club Rugby Badia ASD.

Rugby Badia ASD

Leader arrived in Italy to play with Rugby Badia ASD in Italy's Serie A rugby competition.[5] A few months into his time in Italy a shoulder injury forced him to return to Ireland for surgery.[6]

Lindenwood University

In 2015, whilst recovering from a shoulder reconstruction Leader received a rugby scholarship at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri to play for the school's college rugby side the Lindenwood Lions. During his time at Lindenwood, Leader pursued an undergraduate degree in sports management. Leader was selected to play in the Lindenwood team that represented the United States at the Red Bull World Uni 7's in Bath in England.[7] However, shortly after arriving, Leader was ruled ineligible to represent the university in intercollegiate matches due to his time spent as a professional player in Ireland and Italy.[8]

St. Louis Royals

Leader linked up with local club the St. Louis Royals in 2016, whilst continuing his studies at Lindenwood. As captain-coach Leader led the Royals to a DIII national championship in 2017.[9] Leader was also named player's MVP of the Royals after the 2017 season.

San Diego Legion

In January 2018, Leader signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby.[10]

International career

In April 2011, Leader was selected for the Ireland under-19 squad for their game against France.[11] Later that year in December 2011, Leader was selected as part of Mike Ruddock's squad for the Ireland under-20s in preparation for the 2012 under-20 Six Nations tournament.[12]

Having lived in the United States since 2015, under the World Rugby three-year residency rule, Leader became eligible in 2018 to play for the United States. Leader was called up to the U.S. squad for the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship.[13]

Gridiron football

In 2020, Leader attempted to become an NFL placekicker.[14] [15] He joined The Spring League's Aviators for the 2021 season.[16] Following week 6 of the 2021 European League of Football season, Leader signed with the Wrocław Panthers.[17]

On February 23, 2022, Leader signed with the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[18] [19] [20] However, he was released before the start of the regular season on June 5, 2022.[21]

Notes and References

  1. News: Irishman Leader's path leads him into USA's Major League Rugby. Kinsella. Murray. The42. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001615/http://www.the42.ie/tadhg-leader-major-league-rugby-san-diego-3795956-Jan2018/. 15 January 2018.
  2. Web site: Irish Rugby. irishrugby.ie. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075741/http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/7173.php#.Wl67PmQ-c1I. 4 March 2016.
  3. Web site: Connacht Rugby. Murphy. Alan. connachtrugby.ie. 20 September 2013. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323184602/https://www.connachtrugby.ie/clarke-named-for-first-derby-clash/. 23 March 2018.
  4. News: Leader shows the way as Connacht edge Reds. 21 September 2012. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121209092920/http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/leader-shows-the-way-as-connacht-edge-reds-208344.html. 9 December 2012.
  5. News: - PolesineRugby E' ARRIVATO TADGH LEADER. 28 August 2014. PolesineRugby. 17 January 2018. it-IT. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323184602/http://www.polesinerugby.com/e-arrivato-tadgh-leader/. 23 March 2018.
  6. News: Per il professore l'Eccellenza è da riformare – RUGBY Tadhg Leader, il mediano d'apertura irlandese, potrebbe tornare a disposizione del Badia per cercare di ottenere la salvezza. Nicola Mazzuccato e Joe McDonnell verranno confermati alla guida del Progetto Polesine e della Monti Junior Rovigo. RovigoOggi.it. 17 January 2018. it. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323184602/http://www.rovigooggi.it/articolo/2015-03-04/per-il-professore-l-eccellenza-e-da-riformare/#.Wl7BuWQ-c1J. 23 March 2018.
  7. Web site: Lindenwood Heads to England for World Red Bull Uni 7s. Lappen. Evan. 29 August 2016. rugbytoday.com. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160901112449/http://www.rugbytoday.com/college/lindenwood-heads-england-world-red-bull-uni-7s. 1 September 2016.
  8. News: Irishman Leader's path leads him into USA's Major League Rugby. Kinsella. Murray. The42. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001615/http://www.the42.ie/tadhg-leader-major-league-rugby-san-diego-3795956-Jan2018/. 15 January 2018.
  9. News: USA Club Rugby Report: St. Louis Royals Reign, Win Men's DIII National Championship; Stephen Duff Named Player of the Match – The Runner Sports. 4 June 2017. The Runner Sports. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170618214538/http://therunnersports.com/st-louis-royals-reign-win-mens-diii-national-championship/. 18 June 2017.
  10. News: Irishman Leader's path leads him into USA's Major League Rugby. Kinsella. Murray. The42. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001615/http://www.the42.ie/tadhg-leader-major-league-rugby-san-diego-3795956-Jan2018/. 15 January 2018.
  11. News: SportsNewsIRELAND – SportsNewsIRELAND. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222101102/http://sportsnewsireland.com/uncategorized/19937/. 22 December 2017.
  12. News: Ruddock's under-20s enjoy a marked superiority over Leinster. The Irish Times. 17 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323184602/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ruddock-s-under-20s-enjoy-a-marked-superiority-over-leinster-1.14869. 23 March 2018.
  13. https://www.the42.ie/leader-otoole-kearns-usa-mens-selects-4232983-Sep2018/ Ex-Connacht men Leader and O'Toole called into USA Men's Selects squad
  14. Web site: Tadhg Leader Is Trying To Make It As An NFL Kicker | Balls.ie .
  15. Web site: USA Eagle Tadhg Leader dreams of NFL kicking job - Rugby World . 16 November 2020 .
  16. TheSpringLeague . First look at the #TSLAviators roster at #TSL2021! . 1389043694284808192 . May 2, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
  17. Web site: Kolejne wzmocnienia Panthers Wrocław . 29 July 2021 . 2021-07-29.
  18. Web site: Tiger-Cats sign former rugby player Leader as kicker/punter . . February 23, 2022.
  19. Web site: 2022-02-23 . Ticats sign Global K/P Tadhg Leader . 2022-03-20 . . en.
  20. Web site: Tiger-cats kicker Leader was part of U.S. rugby win over Canada in 2019 . . February 26, 2022.
  21. Web site: Transactions – Football player trades and signings . . February 12, 2022.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tadhg Leader".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.