Gavin Coombes

Gavin Coombes (born 11 December 1997) is an Irish rugby union player for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Munster. He plays primarily as a number 8, but can also play flanker or lock. Coombes represents Young Munster in the All-Ireland League.

Gavin Coombes
Date of birth (1997-12-11) 11 December 1997
Place of birthSkibbereen, Cork, Ireland
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st; 240 lb)
SchoolBandon Grammar School
Notable relative(s)Liam Coombes (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker, Lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)

2016–		 Bandon
Young Munster		 ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Munster 27 (45)
Correct as of 30 January 2021
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Ireland U20 9 (5)
Correct as of 18 June 2017

Early life

Born in Skibbereen, Cork, Coombes first began playing rugby for Skibbereen RFC. He attended Bandon Grammar School and captained the senior rugby team to the quarter-finals of the 2016 Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup. Coombes went on to represent Munster at Under-18 and Under-19 levels, winning inter-provincial championships with both, as well as also representing Ireland at Under-18 and Under-19 levels.[1]

Munster

Coombes was part of the Munster A team that won the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, starting at blindside flanker in the 29–28 victory against Jersey Reds in the final on 21 April 2017.[2]

Coombes started at number 8 in both of Munster's pre-season friendlies in August 2018, before being named in his first Pro14 squad. He made his competitive debut for Munster on 1 September 2018, coming off the bench in their opening 2018–19 Pro14 fixture against Cheetahs in Thomond Park, a game which Munster won 38–0.[3][4] Coombes signed a two-year contract with Munster in October 2018, a deal that saw him join the senior team from the 2019–20 season.[5]

He scored his first tries for Munster in their 29–10 win against Welsh side Scarlets during round 13 of the 2019–20 Pro14 on 29 February 2020.[6] Coombes scored a hat-trick of tries and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 38–22 win against Ospreys in round 6 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 15 November 2020.[7] He made his Champions Cup debut for the province in their opening fixture of the 2020–21 competition against English side Harlequins on 13 December 2020, scoring a try in Munster's 21–7 home win.[8]

Ireland

Coombes represented Ireland U20s during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[1] After Caelan Doris was ruled out of Ireland's opening 2021 Six Nations away to Wales due to injury, Coombes received his first senior international call up to the Ireland squad as Doris' replacement.[9]

Honours

Munster A

References
  1. "Gavin Coombes Munster Academy Profile". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "Munster A Claim B&I Cup Title After Cork Rollercoaster". Munster Rugby. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. "Team Announcement | Munster v Cheetahs". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  4. "Match Report | Winning Start at Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. "Player Contract Boost Continues". Munster Rugby. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  6. "Report | Last-Gasp Coombes Try Secures Bonus-Point For Scarlets". Munster Rugby. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. "Report | Munster Start Season With Five Wins In A Row". Munster Rugby. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  8. "Report | Munster Make Winning Start To Champions Cup". Munster Rugby. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  9. "First Ireland call-up for Gavin Coombes as Caelan Doris ruled out". Irish Examiner. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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