Darren Cave
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Darren Cave
| image = File:Darren Cave Heineken Cup Final 2012.jpg
| caption = Darren Cave, Heineken Cup final, 2012
| birth_name = Darren Cave
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|4|5}}
| birth_place = Holywood, Northern Ireland
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = {{convert|93|kg|stlb}}
| position = Centre
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Belfast Harlequins
| ru_amupdate =
| years1 = 2007–2019
| clubs1 = Ulster
| apps1 = 229
| points1 = 229
| ru_clubupdate = 30 March 2019
| repyears1 = 2007
| repyears2 = 2007–2014
| repyears3 = 2009–2015
| repyears4 = 2008
| repteam1 = Ireland U20
| repteam2 = Ireland Wolfhounds
| repteam3 = Ireland
| repteam4 = Ireland Sevens
| repcaps1 = 5
| repcaps2 = 11
| repcaps3 = 11
| reppoints1 = 10
| reppoints2 = 30
| reppoints3 = 10
| ru_ntupdate = 27 September 2015
| school = Sullivan Upper School
}}
Darren Cave (born 5 April 1987) is a retired professional Irish rugby union player who played centre for Ulster, sharing the province's appearance record with Andrew Trimble and Rob Herring with 229, and won eleven caps for Ireland.
Early career
Cave attended Sullivan Upper School, and helped them win the Medallion Shield in 2002, scoring a try, a conversion and the winning penalty in the final.Simon McCloskey, "Cave the hero in Sullivan win", News Letter, 22 March 2002 He represented Ireland at schools level,"Ulster kids make grade", News Letter, 16 December 2003 including for a tour of Australia 2004.Richard Mulligan, "Six Ulster boys on Aussie tour of a lifetime", Belfast Telegraph, 14 July 2004 The same year, he was nominated for the Ulster Schools Player of the Year award.Gavin Mairs, "Ulster set to honour their own", Belfast Telegraph, 20 May 2004 In 2005 he joined Belfast Harlequins"Irish have semi-final hope", News Letter, 9 April 2005 represented Ireland at the under-19 World Cup,"Four head off to U-19 World Cup", News Letter, 24 March 2005 and joined the Ulster Rugby academy in 2005.Gavin Mairs, "Ulster boys' pivotal role for Ireland", Belfast Telegraph, 22 November 2005 He was part of the Ireland under-20 team that won a Grand Slam in the under-20 Six Nations in 2007.[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/the-five-best-darren-cave-moments-as-ulster-centre-announces-retirement/37980065.html "The five best Darren Cave moments as Ulster centre announces retirement"], Belfast Telegraph, 3 April 2019
Ulster Rugby
After scoring two hat-tricks in consecutive weeks for Belfast Harlequins, Cave made his first senior start for Ulster against the Dragons in October 2007,Ciaran Donaghy, "Cave finds ray of light in shape of start for Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 6 October 2007 He became a regular in the side in the 2008–09 season, making 21 starts and scoring seven tries, and was named Ulster Rugby Young Player of the Year.Richard Mulligan, "Ferris claims top accolade", News Letter, 15 May 2009
In 2010–11 Cave struggled with injuries but returned towards the end of the season and scored some vital tries as Ulster reached the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and semi-finals of the Magners League. Cave showed excellent form on his return to action but picked up another injury in early 2012, just as he looked likely to be included in Ireland's Six Nations squad. He made another magnificent comeback as Ulster made the Heineken Cup final for just the second time in their history, but they lost to Leinster in the 2012 Heineken Cup Final, 42-14.{{cite news|title=Heineken Cup 2012: Brian O'Driscoll overwhelmed by Leinster's record-breaking victory over Ulster|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9278060/Heineken-Cup-2012-Brian-ODriscoll-overwhelmed-by-Leinsters-record-breaking-victory-over-Ulster.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 May 2012}}
In the 2012–13 campaign, Cave was ever-present as Ulster reached the final of the PRO12 and recorded a series of notable firsts including winning in France and beating every Welsh region in Wales. Cave scored five tries the following season and was a stand-out player for the province as Ulster won all six of their Heineken Cup Pool matches and reached the PRO12 Play Off.
Cave retired from rugby union at the end of the 2018–19 season,{{cite news|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2019/04/cave-to-retire-at-end-of-season/|title=Cave to retire at end of season|date=3 April 2019|work=Ulster Rugby|accessdate=3 April 2019|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404124743/https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2019/04/cave-to-retire-at-end-of-season/|url-status=dead}} having equalled Andrew Trimble's record of 229 appearance for Ulster,Richard Mulligan, [https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/darren-caves-ulster-achievements-hailed-by-rory-best-972785 "Darren Cave’s Ulster achievements hailed by Rory Best"], News Letter, 19 May 2019 a record that has since been surpassed by Rob Herring.[https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/05/04/herring-equals-ulster-caps-record-as-stockdale-hits-century-mark/ "Herring Equals Ulster Caps Record As Stockdale Hits Century Mark"], Irish Rugby, 4 May 2023
International career
Cave was included in Ireland's 39-man squad for the 2009 Six Nations Championship,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/7842774.stm "Ireland call-up for centre Cave"], BBC Sport, 21 January 2009 was part of the Ireland 'A' team that won the 2009 Churchill Cup,[https://www.irishrugby.ie/2009/05/11/ireland-a-squad-for-churchill-cup-announced/ "Ireland ‘A’ Squad For Churchill Cup Announced"], Irish Rugby, 11 May 2009 and won his first two full international caps against Canada and the United States in Ireland's 2009 tour of North America.[http://en.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/player/27640.html Darren Cave profile at ESPN], accessed 22 July 2023 He was selected for Ireland's 2012 tour of New Zealand, making one appearance off the bench,[https://www.the42.ie/ireland-us-eagles-rugby-darren-cave-940999-Jun2013/ "4 years and 3 caps on, Darren Cave is determined to make next Ireland start count"], The 42, 7 June 2013 and scored an impressive individual try for an Ireland XV side that defeated Fiji 53-0 later the same year.Eddie Butler, [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/nov/17/ireland-xv-fiji-autumn-international "Ireland XV demolish Fiji after Craig Gilroy stakes claim with three tries"], The Guardian, 17 November 2012 He was selected for Ireland's 2013 tour of the USA and Canada starting both tests and scoring a try against Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/185099.html|title=Ian Madigan kicks Ireland to victory|website=espn.co.uk|accessdate=14 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/186149.html|title=Ireland rout Canada|website=espn.co.uk|accessdate=14 September 2017}} He started both tests in Ireland's 2014 tour of Argentina,{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/228879.html|title=Sexton injury mars Ireland win|first=ESPN|last=Staff|website=espn.co.uk|access-date=14 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/229719.html|title=Ireland battle to hard-fought win|first=ESPN|last=Staff|website=espn.co.uk|access-date=14 September 2017}} and won his eighth international cap in the 49-7 win against Georgia in November 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/story/248097.html|title=Ireland power past Georgia|first=ESPN|last=Staff|website=espn.co.uk|access-date=14 September 2017}} having been initially left out of Ireland's squad for the Autumn internationals.[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/nov/15/ireland-darren-cave-georgia "Ireland’s Darren Cave crosses Atlantic to play against Georgia"], The Guardian, 15 November 2014 He made one appearance in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, starting against Romania.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34369681 "Rugby World Cup 2015: Ireland 44-10 Romania"], BBC, 27 September 2015 He retired with eleven caps for Ireland.[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/i-retire-as-a-lifelong-ulster-man-darren-cave-announces-decision-to-leave-ulster/37978883.html "'I retire as a lifelong Ulster man': Darren Cave announces decision to leave Ulster"], Belfast Telegraph, 3 April 2019
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ulsterrugby.com/player?PlayGuid=DC268485 Ulster Profile]
- [https://www.pro14rugby.org/player/?PlayGuid=DC268485 Pro14 Profile]
- {{EPCR profile|DC268485}}
{{Ireland Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cave, Darren}}
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Ireland international rugby union players
Category:Belfast Harlequins rugby union players
Category:People educated at Sullivan Upper School
Category:Sportspeople from Holywood, County Down
Category:Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players
Category:Ireland international rugby sevens players