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.
Date of birth | 11 December 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Skibbereen, Cork, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 110 kg (17 st; 240 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Bandon Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Liam Coombes (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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, with Coombes 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]
Ireland
Coombes represented Ireland U20 during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[1]
Honours
Munster A
- British and Irish Cup:
- Winner (1): 2016–17
References
- "Gavin Coombes Munster Academy Profile". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "Munster A Claim B&I Cup Title After Cork Rollercoaster". Munster Rugby. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "Team Announcement | Munster v Cheetahs". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "Match Report | Winning Start at Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "Player Contract Boost Continues". Munster Rugby. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- "Report | Last-Gasp Coombes Try Secures Bonus-Point For Scarlets". Munster Rugby. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.