Andy Kyriacou

Andy Kyriacou (born 4 January 1983) is a rugby union player who played at hooker for Saracens, Ulster, and Cardiff Blues.

Andi Kyriacou
Birth nameAndrew Stephen Kyriacou
Date of birth (1983-01-04) 4 January 1983
Place of birthLiverpool, England
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
SchoolKirkham Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Youth career
Ormskirk RUFC
West Park RFC
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–04
2003–04
2004–09
2006–07
2009–12
2012–		 Sale Sharks
Leeds Tykes
Saracens
→ Munster Rugby (loan)
Ulster Rugby
Cardiff Blues		 1
1
34
9
47
0		 (0)
(0)
(5)
(0)
(5)
(0)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004
2009		 England U21
Ireland A
2
(0)

Personal life

Kyriacou was born 4 January 1983 in Liverpool, England. He is of English, Irish and Greek Cypriot ancestry. Kyriacou is married to Rebecca and has three children.[1]

Playing and coaching career

Early playing career

Andi Kyriacou started his rugby playing at Ormskirk RUFC and later moved to West Park RFC in St Helens, Merseyside, where he was amongst a string of Lancashire representatives from the club. From here, Kyriacou represented England at u16 and u18.

Sale Sharks 2001–2004

Kyriacou's first senior season in top flight English rugby at Sale Sharks included a debut in the Zurich Premiership.[2]

More recognition came at an international level in 2004, when Kyriacou was part of the England U21 Grand Slam winning side in the U21 Six Nations championship.[3]

Saracens 2004–2009

Kyriacou joined Saracens on 1 July 2004,[4] one of a number of players to make the move from Sale to Saracens in that season including Alex Sanderson, Iain Fullarton and Kevin Yates, as well as Matt Cairns who was returning to the club after a single season with the Sharks.[3] He made his debut in European competition against Rugby Parma on 4 December of that year, with his Guinness Premiership debut soon after 2005–06 .[4]

Working alongside Matt Cairns, Fabio Ongaro and Shane Byrne, Kyriacou was selected by Declan Kidney to join Munster Rugby for the 2006–07 season, making multiple appearances for the club in both their Celtic League and Heineken Cup campaigns. The playing experience drawn from Munster Rugby meant that the 2007–08 season presented greater opportunities for Kyriacou back with Saracens, ready for their 2007/8 European Cup campaign.[4]

Ulster Rugby 2009–2012

In July 2009, Kyriacou signed a contract with Ulster Rugby.[5] Whilst at Ulster, Kyriacou was picked for the Ireland squad and was capped for the Ireland Wolfhounds.[6]

Cardiff Blues 2012–2013 and Coaching Career

Kyriacou joined Cardiff Blues for the 2012–13 Pro 12.[7] His playing career was cut short prematurely when Kyriacou seriously injured his back early in the season.[8] Cardiff Blues then signed Kyriacou in a coaching role, supervising the scrum and skills in the first instance, later moving on to coach the forwards.[8]

In 2015, Kyriacou went on to become the forwards coach for Russia Rugby, alongside working as the scrum coach for his original club Sale Sharks.

Kyriacou was signed by Nottingham Rugby as Defence and Forwards Coach at the beginning of the 2018/19 season, where he built one of the most successful defensive systems and strongest packs in The Championship.

References
  1. "Kyriacou grasps opportunity this time". The Irish Times. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. "Guinness Premiership Profile". Guinness Premiership. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  3. "Saracens sign up England U21 trio". Saracens. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  4. "Saracens Profile". Saracens. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  5. "Ulster bring in hooker Kyriacou". BBC Sport. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  6. "Ireland A 48–19 Tonga". BBC Sport. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  7. "Cardiff Blues confirm Andi Kyriacou signing from Ulster". BBC Sport. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  8. "Andi Kyriacou forced to retire and joins Cardiff Blues coaching staff". Sky Sports. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
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