Andrew Porter (rugby union)

{{Short description|Irish and British & Irish Lions international rugby union player}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Andrew Gerald Porter

| image = Andrew Porter Italy 2023.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Porter representing Ireland during the Six Nations Championship

| fullname = Andrew Gerald Porter

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|01|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|123|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| school = St. Andrew's College

| university = University College Dublin

| relatives =

| position = Prop

| currentclub = Leinster

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 =

| amatapps1 =

| amatpoints1 =

| ru_amupdate =

| years1 = 2016–

| clubs1 = Leinster

| apps1 = 133

| points1 = 90

| repyears1 = 2015–2016

| repteam1 = Ireland U20

| repcaps1 = 17

| reppoints1 = 10

| repyears2 = 2017–

| repteam2 = Ireland

| repcaps2 = 75

| reppoints2 = 30

| clubupdate = 11 April 2025

| repupdate = 15 March 2025

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =

| ru_sevensupdate =

}}

Andrew Gerald Porter (born 16 January 1996) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team. He was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021.

Early life

Porter’s mother died from cancer when he was a child.{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby-union/andrew-porter-details-heartbreaking-reason-31954887 |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 March 2024 |archive-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324050812/https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby-union/andrew-porter-details-heartbreaking-reason-31954887 |url-status=live }} Porter was educated and played rugby at St. Andrew's College, Dublin from 2008–2014.{{Cite web|url=https://sac.ie/news/?pid=501&nid=1&storyid=1515|title=Greg Jones and Andrew Porter|website=St. Andrew's College Dublin|access-date=2016-12-01}}

He then attended and played rugby for University College Dublin.{{cite web |title=TheJournal.ie - 'Even for guys headed for the very top, the Colours is a hugely significant game' |url=https://www.the42.ie/ucd-trinity-colours-match-3935050-Apr2018/?amp=1 |website=www.the42.ie |date=2 April 2018 |access-date=8 June 2021 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408203700/https://www.the42.ie/ucd-trinity-colours-match-3935050-Apr2018/?amp=1 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Trinity Rugby Lose 23-13 to UCD in Top Table Clash |url=http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/09/trinity-rugby-lose-23-13-to-ucd-in-top-table-clash |website=www.universitytimes.ie |access-date=8 June 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207042522/http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/09/trinity-rugby-lose-23-13-to-ucd-in-top-table-clash/ |url-status=live }}

Porter was noted for his strength and power. He could squat 350 kg (772 lb), making him already one of the strongest rugby players in the world, when he was aged just 20 and in his first year under professional contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20-star-men-2835575-Jun2016/ |title=5 U20 stars who made a Championship semi-final look ridiculously easy today |publisher=The42.ie |date=2016-06-20 |access-date=2016-10-06}}

Club career

Porter entered the Leinster academy in Summer 2016 and made his senior first team debut off the bench against Benetton Treviso in the first game of the season on 2 September.{{cite web |author=TimeKO 14:05 |url=http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/team/results/squad_leinster_academy.php?player=122470&includeref=dynamic |title=Leinster Academy Squad | Players | Profiles | Academy : Leinster Academy | The Team | Leinster Rugby | Official website |publisher=Leinsterrugby.ie |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009103216/http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/team/results/squad_leinster_academy.php?player=122470&includeref=dynamic |url-status=live }} He was noted for his surprising speed and mobility in the loose, as evidenced by him making a break and scoring a try from inside his own half in the 2015–16 season for UCD in the AIL League.{{cite web|last=O'Brien |first=Brendan |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/colossus-andrew-porter-about-far-more-than-just-raw-power-381279.html |title=Colossus Andrew Porter about far more than just raw power |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=2016-02-11 |access-date=2016-10-06}}

International career

At under-20 level, Porter starred for the Ireland U20 team for two seasons, including being involved in their best ever result in the Junior World Championship in 2016, when they finished runners-up. He made twelve appearances and scored two tries over the two seasons of his involvement with the squad.{{cite web |author=Andrew Porter |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/squads_ireland_u20.php?player=122470&includeref=dynamic |title=Ireland U20 Squad | Profiles : Irish Rugby | Official Website |publisher=Irishrugby.ie |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207051557/http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/squads_ireland_u20.php?player=122470&includeref=dynamic |archive-date=2016-12-07 |url-status=dead }}

Porter first represented Ireland at senior level in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Andrew Porter Rugby {{!}} Andrew Porter News, Stats & Team {{!}} RugbyPass |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-porter/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en |archive-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202122953/https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-porter/ |url-status=live }}

On 6 May 2021, Porter was named in the squad for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57007546|title=British and Irish Lions 2021: Sam Simmonds in 37-man squad but Billy Vunipola misses out|date=6 May 2021|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 May 2021|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506201521/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57007546|url-status=live}}

Career statistics

= List of international tries =

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
Number ! Position ! Points ! Tries ! Result ! Opposition ! Venue ! Date ! class="unsortable" \| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
1 \| Prop \| 5 \| 1 \| Lost \| {{ru\|ENG\|noflag=y}} \| Twickenham Stadium \| 23 February 2020 \| {{cite web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/23/england-ireland-six-nations-rugby-match-report \| title = England keep title hopes alive as George Ford outwits Ireland defence \| last = Kitson \| first = Robert \| date = 23 February 2020 \| website = The Guardian \| access-date = 31 May 2023 }}
2 \| Prop \| 5 \| 1 \| Won \| {{ru\|ARG\|noflag=y}} \| Aviva Stadium \| 21 November 2021 \| {{cite web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/21/ireland-argentina-autumn-international-rugby-union-match-report \| title = O'Mahony hails Carbery after Ireland's emphatic win over Argentina \| last = Media \| first = PA \| date = 21 November 2021 \| website = The Guardian \| access-date = 31 May 2023 }}
3–4 \| Prop \| 10 \| 2 \| Won \| {{ru\|NZL\|noflag=y}} \| Forsyth Barr Stadium \| 9 July 2022 \| {{cite web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2022/jul/09/new-zealand-v-ireland-second-rugby-union-test-live \| title = New Zealand 12-23 Ireland: second rugby union Test – as it happened \| last = Calvert \| first = Lee \| date = 9 July 2022 \| website = The Guardian \| access-date = 31 May 2023 }}
5 \| Prop \| 5 \| 1 \| Won \| {{ru\|FRA\|noflag=y}} \| Aviva Stadium \| 11 February 2023 \| {{cite web \| url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/feb/11/ireland-v-france-six-nations-2023-live-score-updates \| title = Ireland 32-19 France: Six Nations 2023 – as it happened \| last = Calvert \| first = Lee \| date = 11 February 2023 \| website = The Guardian \| access-date = 31 May 2023 }}
6 \| Prop \| 5 \| 1 \| Won \| {{ru\|SCO\|noflag=y}} \| Aviva Stadium \| 16 March 2024 \| {{cite web \|title=IRELAND CROWNED CHAMPIONS AGAIN \|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/matches/2024/ireland-v-scotland-16032024-1645 \|website=Six Nations Rugby \|access-date=17 March 2024 \|archive-date=16 March 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316190036/https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/matches/2024/ireland-v-scotland-16032024-1645 \|url-status=live }}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"

Number

! Position

! Points

! Tries

! Result

! Opposition

! Venue

! Date

! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| Prop

| 5

| 1

| Lost

| {{ru|ENG|noflag=y}}

| Twickenham Stadium

| 23 February 2020

| {{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/23/england-ireland-six-nations-rugby-match-report | title = England keep title hopes alive as George Ford outwits Ireland defence | last = Kitson | first = Robert | date = 23 February 2020 | website = The Guardian | access-date = 31 May 2023 }}

| Prop

| 5

| 1

| Won

| {{ru|ARG|noflag=y}}

| Aviva Stadium

| 21 November 2021

| {{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/21/ireland-argentina-autumn-international-rugby-union-match-report | title = O'Mahony hails Carbery after Ireland's emphatic win over Argentina | last = Media | first = PA | date = 21 November 2021 | website = The Guardian | access-date = 31 May 2023 }}

3–4

| Prop

| 10

| 2

| Won

| {{ru|NZL|noflag=y}}

| Forsyth Barr Stadium

| 9 July 2022

| {{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2022/jul/09/new-zealand-v-ireland-second-rugby-union-test-live | title = New Zealand 12-23 Ireland: second rugby union Test – as it happened | last = Calvert | first = Lee | date = 9 July 2022 | website = The Guardian | access-date = 31 May 2023 }}

| Prop

| 5

| 1

| Won

| {{ru|FRA|noflag=y}}

| Aviva Stadium

| 11 February 2023

| {{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/feb/11/ireland-v-france-six-nations-2023-live-score-updates | title = Ireland 32-19 France: Six Nations 2023 – as it happened | last = Calvert | first = Lee | date = 11 February 2023 | website = The Guardian | access-date = 31 May 2023 }}

| Prop

| 5

| 1

| Won

| {{ru|SCO|noflag=y}}

| Aviva Stadium

| 16 March 2024

| {{cite web |title=IRELAND CROWNED CHAMPIONS AGAIN |url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/matches/2024/ireland-v-scotland-16032024-1645 |website=Six Nations Rugby |access-date=17 March 2024 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316190036/https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/matches/2024/ireland-v-scotland-16032024-1645 |url-status=live }}

{{as of|2023|03|17|lc=y}}{{Cite web |title=Andrew Gerald Porter |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/player/andrew-porter/}}

Honours

; Ireland

3× Six Nations Championship: 2018, 2023,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/all-30-of-irelands-grand-slam-contributors-rated-but-one-man-comes-out-on-top-36723107.html|title=All 30 of Ireland's Grand Slam contributors rated - but one man comes out on top|date=20 March 2018|work=Irish Independent|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025160153/https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/all-30-of-irelands-grand-slam-contributors-rated-but-one-man-comes-out-on-top-36723107.html|url-status=live}} 2024
2× Grand Slam: 2018, 2023
3× Triple Crown: 2018, 2022, 2023

; Leinster

1× European Rugby Champions Cup: 2018
4× Pro12: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

References

External links

{{sports links}}
{{EPCR profile|AP382464}}
[https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/player/andrew-porter?ref=ea1de8c0-a01c-4d10-b1a0-51df9c8b5ca5 Leinster Profile]
[https://www.irishrugby.ie/player/andrew-porter/ Ireland Profile]
[https://www.pro14rugby.org/player/?PlayGuid=AP382464 Pro14 Profile]

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Irish rugby union players

Category:Rugby union players from Dublin (city)

Category:Rugby union props

Category:Leinster Rugby players

Category:Ireland international rugby union players

Category:People educated at St Andrew's College, Dublin

Category:Alumni of University College Dublin

Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players

Category:2023 Rugby World Cup players

Category:University College Dublin R.F.C. players