Caolin Blade
{{short description|Ireland international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Cáolin Blade
| image = EPCR Challenge Cup 22-23- Benetton Rugby vs Connacht Rugby-115 (52793194721).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Blade representing Connacht during the EPCR Challenge Cup
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|04|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = Galway, Ireland
| height = {{convert|1.70|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|80|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Athenry Vocational School
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Scrum-half
| currentclub = Connacht
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| amatapps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| years1 = 2014–
| clubs1 = Connacht
| apps1 = 171
| points1 = 175
| repyears1 = 2021–
| repteam1 = Ireland
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2022
| repteam2 = Ireland Wolfhounds
| repcaps2 = 1
| reppoints2 = 0
| clubupdate = 27 February 2023
| repupdate = 5 August 2023
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
}}
Cáolin Blade (born 29 April 1994) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Connacht and the Ireland national team.
Early life
Blade grew up in Monivea, a village in County Galway. He attended Athenry Vocational School in nearby Athenry.{{Cite web|title=Connacht Rugby {{!}} Caolin Blade|url=https://www.connachtrugby.ie/players/caolin-blade-2/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Connacht Rugby|language=en}} In addition to rugby, Blade also played Gaelic football and hurling at under-age level.{{cite web| quote=this versatile young sportsman who had already shown exciting promise in under-age Gaelic football and hurling. | url=http://www.tuamherald.ie/sport/roundup/articles/2014/12/17/4034596-another-connacht-rugby-star-on-the-rise/#sthash.KRxYXG65.dpuf | work=The Tuam Herald | title=Another Connacht rugby star on the rise | accessdate=19 November 2015 | date=17 December 2014}}
Blade started out in rugby with local junior club Monivea, where his father played out half and brother have also played at scrum-half.{{cite web|date=24 October 2013|title=Blade And Masterson Join Connacht Academy|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27638.php#.Vk5V_9LhC1s|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=19 November 2015}} He played with them until 2013,{{cite web| url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/12003.php#.Vk5VmNLhC1s | work=Munster Rugby | title=Defeat For Munster In Connacht | accessdate=19 November 2015 | date=20 September 2013 | quote=Caolin Blade (Monivea);}} moving to All-Ireland League club Galwegians after entering Connacht's academy.{{cite web|url=http://www.galwegians.ie/2011/match/2013/11/25/firsts-44-highfield-3/ |work=Galwegians RFC |title=Firsts 44 – Highfield 3 |accessdate=19 November 2015 |date=23 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121075307/http://www.galwegians.ie/2011/match/2013/11/25/firsts-44-highfield-3/ |archivedate=21 November 2015 }}
Professional career
= Connacht =
Having already played for the province's second tier side, the Connacht Eagles, Blade joined Connacht's academy at the start of the 2013–14 season. Blade largely featured for the Eagles throughout the year but made his debut for the senior team in the final game of the season, coming on as a replacement in 45–20 defeat to the Ospreys.{{cite web| url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/31746.php#.Vk9kRtLhC1s | work=Irish Rugby | title=Hooker Heffernan To Start For Connacht | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=9 May 2014}}{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/27307494 | work=BBC Sport | title=Pro12: Ospreys 45-20 Connacht | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=10 May 2014}}
In his second year, Blade featured for the senior team more regularly. He made his European debut in a 2014–15 Rugby Challenge Cup game against Exeter Chiefs on 25 October 2015.{{cite web | url=http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/player_archive.php?player=116242&includeref=dynamic | work=European Professional Club Rugby | title=Player Archive: Caolin Blade | access-date=20 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121072328/http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/player_archive.php?player=116242&includeref=dynamic | archive-date=21 November 2015 | url-status=dead }} Blade made his first start for the senior team on 13 December 2014, playing against Bayonne in France. Despite head coach Pat Lam having changed the entire starting team, Connacht came from behind to win 27–29, with Blade scoring two tries, his first scores for the province.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/bayonne-connacht-match-report-challenge-1832857-Dec2014/ | work=The42 | title=Blade cuts deep as Connacht claim brilliant win away to Bayonne | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=13 December 2014}} He came on as a replacement against Irish rivals Leinster a week later, his only appearance in the 2014–15 Pro12.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/leinster-connacht-match-report-1845514-Dec2014/ | work=The42 | title=Noel Reid shines at 12 in Leinster win over Pat Lam's Connacht | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=19 December 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.pro12rugby.com/teams/connacht/squad.php?player=116242&includeref=dynamic#vd9e8lIE3m0xbLPL.97 | work=Pro12 | title=Connacht Squad Index: Caolin Blade | access-date=2015-11-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121153527/http://www.pro12rugby.com/teams/connacht/squad.php?player=116242&includeref=dynamic#vd9e8lIE3m0xbLPL.97 | archive-date=2015-11-21 | url-status=dead }} In total, Blade made one league appearance and five in the Challenge Cup, with all but one of these coming from the bench.
In January 2015, it was announced that Blade had signed his first full contract with Connacht, a deal that sees him join the senior team ahead of the 2015–16 season and runs until summer 2017.{{cite web| url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/33660.php#.Vk-GVNLhC1s | work=Irish Rugby | title=Connacht Half-Backs Sign New Deals | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=28 January 2015}} He made his first appearance of the season on an away trip to Enisei STM, a team based in Siberia.
= Ireland =
Blade has represented Ireland internationally at under-age level. He played for the under-18 clubs side,{{cite web| url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/6643.php#.Vk-vjdLhC1s | work=Irish Rugby | title=Ireland U-18 Schools Side Beat Clubs' Counterparts | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=2 January 2012}} and later went on to represent the under-19 team.{{cite web| url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27489.php#.Vk-wk9LhC1s | work=Irish Rugby | title=Six Changes For Ireland Under-19s | accessdate=20 November 2015 | date=5 April 2013}}
Blade was named in the Ireland squad for the opening rounds of the 2019 Six Nations.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} In June 2021 he was called up again to the senior Ireland squad for the Summer tests.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/06/14/ireland-squad-confirmed-for-vodafone-summer-series/|title=Ireland Squad Confirmed For Vodafone Summer Series|work=Irish Rugby|date=14 June 2021|access-date=14 June 2021}} Blade made his debut off the bench for the Ireland senior side, in a 71–10 victory over the United States on 10 July 2021.{{cite web |title=Baloucoune wonder try sparks Ireland to life as they put 71 points on USA |url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-usa-4-5491529-Jul2021/ |website=the42 |access-date=10 July 2021}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
{{Connacht Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blade, Caolin}}
Category:Connacht Rugby players
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:Galwegians RFC players