Louie Hennessey

Louie Hennessey
Date of birth (2004-03-29) 29 March 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight105 kg (16.5 st; 231 lb)[2]
SchoolHartpury College
UniversityUniversity of Bath
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Bath Rugby
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023– Bath 9 (10)
2024–2025 →Cardiff (loan) 1 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 Wales U18
2023–2024 Wales U20 17 (30)

Louie Hennessey (born 29 March 2004) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Bath as a centre.

Early life

Hennessy first played rugby at Llanishen RFC at the age of six years-old, before winning the DC Thomas Cup with Cardiff Schools U11s, and winning the Dewar Shield with the Cardiff Schools U16 side.[3] He attended Hartpury College through a partnership with the Cardiff Academy.[4][5] While at Hartpury, Hennessey captained their rugby team to a league title, winning all ten fixtures.[6] Louie studied at University of Bath after signing with Bath Rugby.[7]

Club career

Cardiff

Described as a "powerful and skilful centre",[8] as well as "graceful runner with a great turn of pace",[9] Hennessey first signed an academy contract with Cardiff Rugby in 2020.[10]

Bath

In 2022, Hennessey signed with Bath Rugby.[6] Hennessey made his senior debut on 28 September 2022 in the Premiership Rugby Cup.[11] His competitive debut came on 4 November 2023, against Northampton Saints.[12]

He scored his first Rugby Premiership try for Bath away against Leicester Tigers on 31 December 2023.[13][14]

Hennessey signed a long-term contract with Bath on 13 November 2024.[15] He was named among the Bath replacements for their European Rugby Champions Cup match against Benetton Rugby on 15 December 2024.[16]

Loan to Cardiff

On 23 December 2024, Hennessey rejoined Cardiff on a short term loan, to provide injury cover.[17] He made his debut on 1 January 2025, starting at outside centre against the Ospreys, before moving to wing due to injuries in the backline.[18]

International career

Hennessey represented Wales at under-18 level and was named in the NextGen XV World U18 Dream Team in 2022.[8][19] He then progressed to the Wales U20 side, featuring in the 2023 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[20] Hennessey made his U20 debut in the opening round against Ireland U20, and scored a try.[21][22] He represented Wales at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship, featuring in all matches.[23] Hennessey was retained in the squad for the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Louie Hennessy". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Louie Hennessy". All Rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ Thomas, Stefan (9 February 2024). "Huge rugby talent wows All Black, emerges in England but only ever wants to play for Wales". Walesonline. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Academy link up with Hartpury College to retain key talent". Cardiff Rugby. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Louie Hennessey". Hartpury.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Sands, Katie (9 June 2022). "Welsh teen international signs for English club after leaving region's academy". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Team Bath BUCS Super Rugby freshers Eddie Erskine and Louie Hennessey earn U20 Six Nations call-ups with Scotland and Wales". Team Bath. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b "World Under 18 XV 2022". NextGen. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  9. ^ Shaw, Alex (20 June 2023). "The next-gen players who will set the World Rugby U20 Championship alight". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Cardiff Blues confirm squad as youngsters step up - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  11. ^ Jess, Sam; Evely, John (29 September 2022). "Bath Rugby player ratings from Gloucester defeat in the Premiership Rugby Cup". Somerset Live. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Dunn set for record books | Bath Rugby". www.bathrugby.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  13. ^ Richardson, Charles (31 December 2023). "Bath have 'no regrets' over rotation as Leicester keep top-four hopes alive". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Premiership: Leicester 35-22 Bath - Tigers end year with bonus-point win". BBC Sport. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Louie Hennessey: Bath centre signs 'long-term' contract extension". BBC Sport. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  16. ^ Evely, John (13 December 2024). "Benetton v Bath Rugby team news live announcements ahead of Champions Cup clash". Somerset Live. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Cardiff Rugby sign Bath's Louie Hennessey on short-term loan deal". BBC Sport. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Cardiff 13-13 Ospreys - Dan Edwards steers 14-man visitors to derby draw". BBC Sport. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  19. ^ "10 Cardiff youngsters earn Wales under-18 squad places". Cardiff Rugby. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  20. ^ James, Ben (7 June 2023). "Welsh teen international signs for English club after leaving region's academy". Walesonline. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  21. ^ Orders, Mark (1 February 2023). "Young Welsh giant handed debut for U20 Six Nations opener against Ireland". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Wales U20s 27-44 Ireland U20s". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  23. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: Georgia 21-40 Wales - Hennessey double leads six-try show". BBC Sport. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Wales U20s announce Six Nations squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.