Alex McHenry

Alex McHenry
Date of birth (1997-10-07) 7 October 1997 (age 27)
Place of birthCork, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight95 kg (15.0 st; 209 lb)
SchoolChristian Brothers College
UniversityUniversity College Cork
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2022 Cork Constitution ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2022 Munster 3 (5)
2021 → Wasps (loan) 4 (0)
2022– Jersey Reds 19 (30)
Correct as of 29 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Ireland U20 1 (0)
Correct as of 24 February 2017
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2017–2018 Ireland 7s

Alex McHenry (born 7 October 1997) is an Irish rugby union player for RFU Championship club Jersey Reds. He plays as a centre.

Early life

Born in Cork, McHenry won the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2016 with Christian Brothers College, alongside former Munster teammate Liam Coombes.[1] Prior to this, McHenry had captained Munster under-19s to inter-provincial success in 2015, and also represented Munster under-18 Schools and Ireland under-19s.[2]

Career

Cork Constitution

McHenry was part of the Cork Con team that won a treble during the 2016–17 season, winning the All-Ireland League, All-Ireland Cup and Munster Senior Cup,[2] as well as winning a second Senior Cup and All-Ireland League during the 2018–19 season,[3][4] and a third Senior Cup during the 2019–20 season.[5]

Munster

McHenry made his debut for Munster A against English RFU Championship side Doncaster Knights in round 6 of the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup on 13 January 2017.[6] Munster A won the match 24–16 to secure a home quarter-final in the tournament,[7] which they eventually won by defeating Jersey Reds 29–28 in the final in April 2017, though McHenry was not part of the team on the day.[8] He went on to then join the Munster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season.[2] McHenry played in all 6 of Munster A's fixtures during the 2018–19 Celtic Cup,[9] and also played for the 'A' team in their 38–19 win against Major League Rugby side New England Free Jacks in the Cara Cup in April 2019.[10]

Following the win against New England, McHenry, along with other teammates from the 'A' team, were recalled to join up with the senior squad,[11] and he was subsequently named as a replacement for the 2018–19 Pro14 round 20 fixture against Italian side Benetton on 12 April 2019.[12] McHenry made his senior competitive debut for Munster when he came on as a replacement for Sammy Arnold during the match, which Munster won 37–28.[13] He joined the Munster senior squad on a one-year contract ahead of the 2020–21 season[14] and extended that deal by a further year in February 2021.[15] McHenry scored his first try for Munster in their 31–17 win against Italian side Benetton in round 16 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 19 March 2021.[16] McHenry left Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season.[17]

Loan to Wasps

McHenry joined English Premiership Rugby club Wasps on loan in October 2021, providing cover for the injured Malakai Fekitoa.[18] He made his debut for the club in their 56–15 defeat against Saracens in round 6 of the 2021–22 Premiership Rugby season on 24 October 2021.[19]

Jersey Reds

McHenry joined RFU Championship club Jersey Reds ahead of the 2022–23 season,[20] and won the Championship in his first season with the club.[21]

Ireland

McHenry won his first cap for Ireland under-20s in their 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship clash with France on 24 February 2017, which Ireland won 27–22.[2][22] He also featured for the Ireland 7s team during the 2017–18 season.[9]

Honours

Christian Brothers College

Cork Constitution

Jersey Reds

References

  1. ^ "CBC Win Their 29th Schools Senior Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Getting To Know Our New Academy Recruits". Munster Rugby. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Report | Cork Con Regain BOI Munster Senior Challenge Cup". Munster Rugby. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Cork Con seal second AIL title in three years with Aviva victory over Clontarf". The42. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Report | Cork Con Secure 30th Munster Senior Challenge Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Munster A Named For B&I Cup In Bandon". Munster Rugby. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Munster A Secure Home Quarter Final". Munster Rugby. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Munster A Claim B&I Cup Title After Cork Rollercoaster". Munster Rugby. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Alex McHenry Munster Academy Profile". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Munster A Defeat New England Free Jacks". Munster Rugby. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Squad Update | Pre Benetton Rugby". Munster Rugby. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Team Named | Munster Side To Face Benetton Rugby". Munster Rugby. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Report | Munster Battle For Bonus Point Win Against Benetton". Munster Rugby. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Six Players Commit To Munster". Munster Rugby. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Player Contract Extensions Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Report | Munster Make It Six Wins In A Row". Munster Rugby. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Munster Rugby Departing Players Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Wasps: Alex McHenry & Paddy Harrison join on short-term deals". BBC Sport. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Wasps player ratings from Saracens loss: 'Sign him up'". Coventry Telegraph. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Reds quintet of new signings brings Reds' squad close to completion". Jersey Reds. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Jersey Reds win RFU Championship title after 43-15 win over Ampthill". BBC Sport. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Three-Try First Half Inspires Ireland U-20s' Third Win". Irish Rugby. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.