Billy Scannell
{{short description|Irish rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
|name = Billy Scannell
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|9|16}}
|height = {{height|m=1.81}}
|weight = {{convert|96|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
|ru_position = Hooker
|amatyears1 =
|amatteam1 = Young Munster
|amatyears2 = 2022–
|amatteam2 = Cork Constitution
|years1 = 2020–2022
|clubs1 = Biarritz
|apps1 = 2
|points1 = 5
|years2 = 2021–2022
|clubs2 = → Stade Lagonnais (loan)
|apps2 = 11
|points2 = 0
|clubupdate = 10 April 2022
|repyears1 = 2019
|repteam1 = Ireland U20
|repcaps1 = 1
|reppoints1 = 0
|ru_ntupdate = 22 February 2019
|relatives = Niall Scannell (brother)
Rory Scannell (brother)
Jack O'Sullivan (cousin)
Donal O'Sullivan (grandfather)
|school = {{nowrap|Presentation Brothers College}}
|university =
}}
Billy Scannell (born 16 September 1999) is an Irish rugby union player. He plays as a hooker.
Early life
Born in Cork, Scannell is the younger brother of Munster players Niall and Rory and a cousin of Jack O'Sullivan. His grandfather is Donal O'Sullivan, who captained Cork to the 1956 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/billy-scannell-biarritz-interview-5182919-Aug2020/|title='I play rugby because I love the game, not just because my brothers play'|date=23 August 2020|work=The42|accessdate=24 August 2020}} Scannell first began playing rugby for Douglas RFC, but switched to Cork Constitution at under-12 level, where his older brothers were already on the books. He attended Presentation Brothers College, Cork and won a Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2017, in a side that was captained by his cousin Jack.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic_news/pbc-win-29th-munster-schools-senior-cup-title/|title=PBC Win 29th Munster Schools Senior Cup Title|date=17 March 2017|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=14 February 2020}} Scannell also captained the school's senior side, and started for Ireland under-18s in all three of their tests against Italy, England and Wales.{{cite news|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/young-gun/28973/young-gun-billy-scannell-munster-hooker/|title=Young Gun: Billy Scannell – Munster hooker|date=18 August 2017|work=The Rugby Paper|accessdate=14 February 2020}}
Club career
After finishing school in 2018, Scannell entered Munster's sub-academy and began playing in the amateur All-Ireland League with Limerick club Young Munster.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/billy-scannell-biarritz-france-4728049-Jul2019/|title=Ireland U20 international Scannell signs for French club Biarritz|date=17 July 2019|work=The42|accessdate=14 February 2020}}
Scannell was overlooked for promotion to Munster's academy, so instead, at the age of 19, he signed a two-year academy contract with French club Biarritz ahead of the 2019–20 season. The deal meant that Scannell would train full-time with the club's senior squad, whilst initially playing matches for the espoirs, or under-23s, side. He made his senior competitive debut for the club in their 2019–20 Pro D2 round 20 fixture away to Vannes on 14 February 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/madigan-scannell-odonnell-irish-abroad-5010032-Feb2020/|title=Madigan slots penalty for Bristol and 20-year-old Scannell debuts in Biarritz|date=17 February 2020|work=The42|accessdate=17 February 2020}} Scannell joined Fédérale 1 club Stade Lagonnais on loan for the 2021–22 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbylangon.com/communique-du-club-4/|title=Communiqué du club|date=3 November 2021|work=Stade Langonnais|access-date=14 December 2021|language=fr}}
International career
Having previously represented Ireland at under-18 and under-19 level, Scannell made his debut for Ireland under-20s in their 34–14 win against Italy on 22 February 2019 during the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/report/ireland-under-20s-stay-top-after-bonus-point-raid-in-rieti/#report|title=Ireland Under-20s Stay Top After Bonus Point Raid In Rieti|date=22 February 2019|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=14 February 2020}} Ireland went on to win a grand slam in that year's tournament.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{ItsRugby profile|billy-scannell-35683}}
- {{ESPNscrum profile|301627}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scannell, Billy}}
Category:People educated at Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Category:Rugby union players from County Cork
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Young Munster players
Category:Cork Constitution players
Category:Biarritz Olympique players
Category:Irish expatriate rugby union players in France
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