Alex Kendellen
{{short description|Irish rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
|name = Alex Kendellen
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|3|3}}
|birth_place = Cork, Ireland
|height = {{height|m=1.88}}
|weight = {{convert|105|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}}
|position = Back-row
|amatyears1 =
|amatteam1 = Cork Constitution
|amatyears2 = 2020–
|amatteam2 = UCC
|years1 = 2021–
|clubs1 = Munster
|apps1 = 88
|points1 = 35
|clubupdate = 19 April 2025
|repyears1 = 2018–2019
|repteam1 = Ireland Schools
|repcaps1 =
|reppoints1 =
|repyears2 = 2021
|repteam2 = Ireland 7s
|repcaps2 = 1
|reppoints2 = 0
|repyears3 = 2021
|repteam3 = Ireland U20
|repcaps3 = 5
|reppoints3 = 30
|repyears4 = 2022-
|repteam4 = Ireland A
|repcaps4 = 1
|reppoints4 = 0
|repupdate = 23 February 2025
|spouse =
|children =
|relatives =
|school = Presentation Brothers College
|university = University College Cork
}}
Alex Kendellen (born 3 March 2001) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Munster.
Early life
Born in Cork, Kendellen attended Presentation Brothers College and captained the school to the final of the 2020 Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup, scoring two tries in their 33–10 semi-final win against Limerick school St Munchin's College,{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/alex-kendellen-leads-pbc-fightback-to-set-up-munster-decider-against-cbc-1.4185652|title=Alex Kendellen leads PBC fightback to set up Munster decider against CBC|date=26 February 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=12 March 2021}} though the final against Cork rivals Christian Brothers College was cancelled and the cup shared due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic_news/97814/|title=Domestic Rugby Season To Conclude|date=19 March 2020|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=12 March 2021}}
Munster
Having already won representative honours with Munster under-18s and under-19s, Kendellen joined the Munster academy immediately upon leaving school in June 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2020/06/05/greencore-munster-rugby-academy-confirmed-3/|title=Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Confirmed|date=5 June 2020|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=12 March 2021}} He made his senior competitive debut for Munster in their 2020–21 Pro14 round 15 match against Welsh side Scarlets on 12 March 2021, coming on as a 28th minute replacement for the injured Fineen Wycherley in Munster's 28–10 win,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-make-it-five-wins-in-a-row/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Make It Five Wins In A Row|date=12 March 2021|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=12 March 2021}} and made his Champions Cup debut for Munster in their 2021–22 pool B round 2 fixture at home to French club Castres on 18 December 2021, coming on as a replacement for John Hodnett in the province's 19–13 win.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-make-it-back-to-back-wins-in-europe/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Make It Back-To-Back Wins In Europe|date=18 December 2021|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=19 December 2021}}
Kendellen made his first start for Munster in their 10–8 away defeat against provincial rivals Connacht in round 9 of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship on 1 January 2022,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-narrow-loss-for-munster-at-connacht/|title=Report {{!}} Narrow Loss For Munster At Connacht|date=1 January 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=2 January 2022}} and scored his first try for the province one week later in their 18–13 home win against Ulster.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-14-man-munster-fight-back-to-beat-ulster/|title=Report {{!}} 14-Man Munster Fight Back To Beat Ulster|date=8 January 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=9 January 2022}} For his performances during the 2021–22 season, Kendellen won Munster's John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year when the province's end-of-season awards were announced in June 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/06/14/2022-munster-rugby-awards/|title=2022 Munster Rugby Awards|date=14 June 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=14 June 2022}}
Kendellen joined Munster's senior squad on a two-year contract from the 2022–23 season,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/01/05/six-munster-players-sign-two-year-contract-extensions/|title=Six Munster Players Sign Two-Year Contract Extensions|date=5 January 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=5 January 2022}} and extended that contract by a further year in September 2022, meaning Kendellen will remain with the province until at least July 2025.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/09/30/player-contract-extensions-confirmed-2/|title=Player Contract Extensions Confirmed|date=30 September 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=30 September 2022}} He featured off the bench in Munster's historic 28–14 win against a South Africa XV in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 10 November 2022,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-secure-historic-victory-over-sa-select-xv/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Secure Historic Victory Over SA Select XV|date=10 November 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=13 November 2022}} and also came on as a replacement in Munster's 19–14 win against the Stormers in the final of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 27 May 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41149351.html|title=Magical Munster see off Stormers to win URC title and end trophy drought|date=27 May 2023|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=27 May 2023}}
Ireland
Kendellen represented the Ireland Schools team at the under-18 Six Nations Festival in 2018, and captained the side at the same tournament in 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2019/04/12/kendellen-to-captain-ireland-u18-schools-team-against-france/|title=Kendellen To Captain Ireland U-18 Schools Team Against France|date=12 April 2019|work=Irish Rugby|access-date=12 March 2021}} He has also played for the Ireland under-18 Sevens team.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/crowley-munster-academy-barron-5116840-Jun2020/|title=Crowley among three recruits to Munster academy as Barron gets senior deal|date=7 June 2020|work=The42|access-date=12 March 2021}} He received his first call up to the Ireland 7s team ahead of the International Rugby 7's tournament at St George's Park, England in May 2021, where they played hosts Great Britain and the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/05/11/ireland-sevens-squads-named-for-international-rugby-7s/|title=Ireland Sevens Squads Named For International Rugby 7s|date=11 May 2021|work=IRFU|access-date=11 May 2021}}
Kendellen was selected to captain the Ireland under-20s team at the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship when the squad was announced on 10 June 2021,{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40310519.html|title=Kendellen to lead Ireland at U20 Six Nations|date=10 June 2021|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=10 June 2021}} scoring a try and earning the player of the match award in Ireland's opening 38–7 win against Scotland on 19 June.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-scotland-under-20s-5471750-Jun2021/|title=Ireland U20s get Six Nations campaign over to perfect start with 6-try win|date=19 June 2021|work=The42|access-date=20 June 2021}} Kendellen followed up his opening round exploits with another try and strong performance in Ireland's 40–12 win against Wales on 25 June,{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20-wales-six-nations-5477955-Jun2021/|title=Excellent Ireland U20s make it 2/2 with bonus-point win over hosts Wales|date=25 June 2021|work=The42|access-date=7 July 2021}} before a 24–15 defeat against England on 1 July brought an end to Ireland's winning start in the tournament.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-england-u20s-3-5483208-Jul2021/|title=Ireland U20s fail to win third successive Triple Crown after loss to England|date=1 July 2021|work=The42|access-date=7 July 2021}} Looking to get back to winning ways, Ireland suffered a scare against Italy on 7 July, trailing 23–12 at half-time, before two tries from player of the match Kendellen sparked a second-half comeback for a 30–23 Irish victory.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40331600.html|title=Alex Kendellen's tries save Ireland U20s after Italian scare|date=7 July 2021|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=7 July 2021}} In Ireland's final game of the tournament, Kendellen scored two tries in his sides 34–28 defeat against France on 13 July,{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20s-6-5494296-Jul2021/|title=France's power in reserve tells as they pip never-say-die Ireland to second in U20s Six Nations|date=13 July 2021|work=The42|access-date=14 July 2021}} finishing the tournament with six tries in five games and two player of the match awards, having featured in all but 22 minutes of Ireland's campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2021/07/16/video-alex-kendellen-u20-6-nations-highlights/|title=Video {{!}} Alex Kendellen U20 6 Nations Highlights|date=16 July 2021|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=18 July 2021}}
Kendellen was selected in the Emerging Ireland squad that travelled to South Africa to participate in the Toyota Challenge against Currie Cup teams Free State Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas in September–October 2022,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/09/14/emerging-ireland-squad-named-for-bloemfontein-trip/#post|title=Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Bloemfontein Trip|date=14 September 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=16 September 2022}} however, he was ruled out of the tour due to concussion and returned to Munster to complete the mandatory return-to-play protocols.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40969190.html|title=Kendellen, Frawley out of Emerging Ireland tour through injury|date=25 September 2022|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=26 September 2022}}
Honours
=Presentation Brothers College=
- Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup:
- Winner (1): 2020{{efn|group=Covid|name=Schools Cup Shared|The 2020 Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup was shared with Christian Brothers College due to COVID-19 restrictions.}}
=Munster=
- United Rugby Championship
- Winner (1): 2022–23
=Individual=
- Munster Academy Player of the Year:
- Winner (1): 2021–22
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.munsterrugby.ie/squad/alex-kendellen/ Munster Senior Profile]
- [https://www.munsterrugby.ie/academy-player?PlayGuid=AK596351 Munster Academy Profile]
- [https://www.unitedrugby.com/clubs/munster/alex-kendellen URC Profile]
- {{EPCR profile|AK596351}}
- {{sport links}}
{{Munster Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kendellen, Alex}}
Category:People educated at Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Category:Rugby union players from Cork (city)
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Cork Constitution players
Category:University College Cork RFC players
Category:Munster Rugby players
Category:Ireland international rugby sevens players