Conor Carey
{{short description|English rugby union player (born 1991)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Conor Carey
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|9|26}}
| birth_place = Ealing, England
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = {{convert|122|kg|stlb}}
| ru_currentteam = Northampton Saints
| ru_currentposition = Tighthead Prop
| position = Tighthead Prop
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Ballymena
| amatteam2 = Ballynahinch
| ru_amateurupdate =
| years1 = 2013–2014
| clubs1 = {{nowrap|Ealing Trailfinders}}
| apps1 = 23
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2014–2016
| clubs2 = Nottingham
| apps2 = 43
| points2 = 10
| years3 = 2016–2019
| clubs3 = Connacht
| apps3 = 54
| points3 = 5
| years4 = 2019–2021
| clubs4 = Worcester Warriors
| apps4 = 15
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2021
| clubs5 = Perpignan
| apps5 =
| points5 =
| years6 = 2021-
| clubs6 = Northampton Saints
| apps6 = 0
| points6 = 0
| totalyears =
| totalapps =
| totalpoints =
| clubupdate = 26 Oct 2021
| repyears1 = 2011
| repteam1 = Ireland U20
| repcaps1 = 6
| reppoints1 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 30 June 2011
| school = Methodist College
}}
Conor Carey (born 26 September 1991) is an English-born Irish professional rugby union player. He primarily plays as a prop. Carey currently plays for English Premiership side Northampton Saints. He previously played for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, and before that played for Nottingham and Ealing Trailfinders in the English Championship. Raised in Belfast, Carey started his career playing under-age rugby with Ulster and represented Ireland internationally up to under-20 level.
Early life
Carey was born in Ealing in London. He was raised in the area for two years, before his parents moved to Hong Kong, and then Wales before eventually settling in Belfast, Northern Ireland.{{cite web| url=http://ealingrugby.co.uk/?p=9486 | work=Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club | title=Carey aiming to make up for lost time against Exiles | accessdate=15 March 2016 | date=27 February 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315153318/http://ealingrugby.co.uk/?p=9486 | archivedate=15 March 2016}}
Carey attended Methodist College in Belfast.{{cite web|title=It's best foot forward for magical Methody|url=http://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/schools-cup/its-best-foot-forward-for-magical-methody-28516712.html|website=The Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=31 July 2016}} He played for the school's rugby side and was part of the team that won the Ulster Schools' Cup in 2008 and 2009. Carey played club rugby with Ballymena in his youth, but also played for Ballynahinch in the All-Ireland League, winning Division 1B with the team in 2013.{{cite web| url=http://www.esportif.com/conor-carey/ | work=Esportif International | title=Conor Carey | accessdate=15 March 2016 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315144526/http://www.esportif.com/conor-carey/ | archivedate=15 March 2016}}
Carey was also part of the Ulster youth set up. He played for the province at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, spending three years in the province's system.{{cite web | url=http://www.connachtrugby.ie/new-contracts-for-dave-heffernan-incoming-tighthead-conor-carey/#ConnachtNews | work=Connacht Rugby | title=New contract for Heffernan & incoming tighthead Conor Carey | accessdate=15 March 2016 | date=7 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317113821/http://www.connachtrugby.ie/new-contracts-for-dave-heffernan-incoming-tighthead-conor-carey/#ConnachtNews | archive-date=17 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}
Club career
=Ealing Trailfinders=
Having failed to make an appearance for the Ulster senior team, Carey joined English Championship side Ealing Trailfinders in 2013, having been born in Ealing and lived there for two years. The team had been promoted from the National League 1 in the previous season. Carey was named as a replacement for the opening game of the season against London Scottish,{{cite web| url=http://ealingrugby.co.uk/?p=7010 | work=Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club | title=Promotion winning duo given chance against Pirates | accessdate=15 March 2016 | date=27 September 2013}} making his debut from the bench after 58 minutes.{{cite web| url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MatchDetails/Championship-13/14/Ealing-Trailfinders-VS-London-Scottish?comp_id=438&match_id=28197&date=14-Sep-2013 | work=StatBunker | title=Championship 13/14 Match overview Ealing Trailfinders VS London Scottish | accessdate=15 March 2016 | date=27 September 2013 | archivedate=15 March 2016 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315154903/http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MatchDetails/Championship-13/14/Ealing-Trailfinders-VS-London-Scottish?comp_id=438&match_id=28197&date=14-Sep-2013}} He made a total of 23 appearances for the Trailfinders during the course of the season, but Ealing finished bottom of the 2013–14 Championship and were relegated back to National League 1.
=Nottingham=
Despite Ealing's relegation, Carey impressed enough to earn a move to Nottingham.{{cite web | url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/Nottingham-Rugby-sign-Conor-Carey-Ealing/story-21086596-detail/story.html | work=Nottingham Post | title=Nottingham Rugby sign Conor Carey from Ealing Trailfinders | accessdate=15 March 2016 | date=12 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709161515/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Nottingham-Rugby-sign-Conor-Carey-Ealing/story-21086596-detail/story.html | archive-date=9 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} Carey made his debut on the opening day of the 2014–15 Championship, coming on as a replacement against Bedford Blues after 75 minutes.{{cite web| url=http://www.bedfordrugby.co.uk/content/nottingham-v-bedford-blues-1 | work=Bedford Blues | title=Nottingham v Bedford Blues | accessdate=16 March 2016 | date=6 September 2014}} He went on to feature in all 22 of Nottingham's Championship matches for the season, starting 17 of these.{{cite web| url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/players/GetHistoryStats?player_id=29371&comps_type=5730117&dates=-1&comps_id=468&clubs_id=39 | work=StatBunker | title=Conor Carey Record by competition Championship 14/15 | accessdate=16 March 2016 | archivedate=16 March 2016 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316185430/http://rugby.statbunker.com/players/GetHistoryStats?player_id=29371&comps_type=5730117&dates=-1&comps_id=468&clubs_id=39}}
=Connacht=
It was announced in March 2016 that Carey had signed a deal with Irish provincial side Connacht and would join them ahead of the 2016–17 season. He was signed as a replacement for outgoing Irish international, Rodney Ah You.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/conor-carey-connacht-dave-heffernan-2646841-Mar2016/ | work=The42 | title=Connacht sign Irish tighthead Carey from English outfit Nottingham | accessdate=15 March 2016 | date=7 March 2016}} He played regularly in the early part of the season, starting six games in the 2016–17 Pro12 and playing in all of the side's games in the Champions Cup,{{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/player/?PlayGuid=CC705639 |work=Pro14 |title=Player Profile: Conor Carey |accessdate=9 May 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/player/?PlayGuid=CC705639 |work=European Professional Club Rugby |title=Player: Conor Carey |accessdate=9 May 2019}} before suffering a serious injury against Wasps in December 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2016/12/27/connacht-squad-severely-stretched-for-munster-match/ |work=Irish Rugby |title=Connacht Squad Severely Stretched For Munster Match |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=9 May 2019}} Carey returned from injury in May 2017 for the final game of the season against Munster.
Carey continued to play regularly in his second season, being primarily used as a replacement for Finlay Bealham.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/connachts-conor-carey-wants-to-make-his-mark-466002.html |work=Irish Examiner |title=Connacht's Conor Carey wants to make his mark |date=19 January 2018 |accessdate=9 May 2019}} He featured in 18 of Connacht's 21 games in the 2017–18 Pro14 and all seven games in the Challenge Cup. In December 2017, it was announced that Carey had signed an extension to his contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.the42.ie/connacht-prop-signs-new-contract-to-extend-his-stay-in-the-west-3748536-Dec2017/ |work=The42 |title=Connacht prop signs new contract to extend his stay in the west |date=13 December 2017 |accessdate=9 May 2019}} In the 2018–19 season, he played 13 games in the Pro14 and four games in the Challenge Cup. In February 2019, it was announced that Carey would leave Connacht at the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47130253 |work=BBC Sport |title=Worcester Warriors: Connacht prop Conor Carey signs for Premiership club |date=5 February 2019 |accessdate=9 May 2019}} He made a total of 54 competitive appearances in his three seasons with the team.
=Worcester Warriors=
In February 2019, it was announced that Carey had signed for the Worcester Warriors. He joined the club ahead of the 2019–20 season.
=Perpignan=
On 14 August 2021, Carey travels to France to join Perpignan in the Top 14 competition ahead of the 2021–22 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.lindependant.fr/2021/08/11/top-14-le-pilier-droit-conor-carey-a-signe-a-lusap-9726637.php|work=L'Independent.fr|title=Top 14 - Right pillar Conor Carey signed to USAP|date=14 August 2021|accessdate=6 September 2021|language=fr}}
=Northampton Saints=
On 26 October 2021, Northampton Saints announced Cary would join them for the rest of the season.{{cite web |title=Conor Carey: Northampton sign former Worcester prop for rest of season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59051741 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 October 2021}}
International career
Carey has represented Ireland at under-age international level. He was capped at under-18 and under-19 level, before being named in the Ireland under-20 squad for the 2011 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. Carey made his debut as a replacement against Italy on 4 February 2011, and started the following week against France.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170112040126/http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/squads_ireland_u20.php?player=98614&includeref=dynamic Ireland Under-20 Profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160822155301/http://www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk/players/conor-carey/ Nottingham Rugby Profile]
- [http://www.ultimaterugby.com/player/view/9254 Ultimate Rugby Profile]
{{Northampton Saints squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carey, Conor}}
Category:Ballynahinch RFC players
Category:Connacht Rugby players
Category:Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club players
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Nottingham R.F.C. players
Category:Worcester Warriors players
Category:People educated at Methodist College Belfast
Category:Rugby union players from the London Borough of Ealing
Category:Rugby union players from Belfast
Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in France
Category:Expatriate rugby union players in France
Category:Expatriate rugby union players from Northern Ireland