Declan Fitzpatrick

{{Short description|Irish former rugby union footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Declan Fitzpatrick

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Declan Fitzpatrick

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|7|12}}

| birth_place = Bromsgrove, England

| height = {{height|m=1.8}}

| weight = {{convert|118|kg|stlb}}

| ru_currentteam =

| ru_currentposition = Prop

| position = Prop

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = Moseley

| amatteam2 = Belfast Harlequins

| amatteam3 = Dungannon

| ru_amupdate =

| years1 = 2006–2015

| clubs1 = Ulster

| apps1 = 98

| points1 = 15

| ru_clubupdate = 1 June 2020

| repyears1 = 2006–2013

| repyears2 = 2012–2013

| repteam1 = Ireland Wolfhounds

| repteam2 = Ireland

| repcaps1 = 9

| repcaps2 = 7

| reppoints1 = 0

| reppoints2 = 0

| ru_ntupdate = 24 November 2013

| university = University of Ulster

}}

Declan Fitzpatrick (born 12 July 1983) is an Irish former rugby union player. He played for Ulster from 2006 to 2015, and won seven caps for Ireland.

Born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England to parents from counties Galway and Mayo,Jonathan Bradley, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/we-were-so-close-its-still-hard-to-take-fitzpatrick/35189841.html "We were so close, it's still hard to take: Fitzpatrick"], Belfast Telegraph, 5 November 2016 he was identified as a prospect by the Irish Exiles programme, and moved to Belfast where he played for Belfast Harlequins, and later for Dungannon.Patrick McCarry, [https://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/declan-fitzpatrick-concussion-retires-rugby-21348 "REVEALED: The inside story of Declan Fitzpatrick's decision to quit rugby due to concussion"], SportsJoe while studying quantity surveying at the University of Ulster. He was part of the Irish national academy,Gavin Mairs, "The way forward is back home", Belfast Telegraph, 29 August 2002 and represented Ireland at under-21 level.Edward Newman, "Ulster give Fitzpatrick and Jackson Cup call-ups", Irish Examiner, 1 October 2004

He made his debut for Ulster in 2006, and made 98 appearances for the province. He was capped seven times for Ireland,Ruaidhri O'Connor, [https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/my-family-life-suffered-and-i-became-depressed-ireland-international-declan-fitzpatrick-on-his-concussion-enforced-retirement-31148046.html "'My family life suffered and I became depressed' - Ireland international Declan Fitzpatrick on his concussion-enforced retirement"], Belfast Telegraph, 16 April 2015 including three test appearances on the 2012 tour of New Zealand. His final appearance for Ireland was in a 2013 defeat to New Zealand.

His final match for Ulster was a Champions Cup defeat away to Toulon in January 2015. He announced his retirement in April 2015 for medical reasons, having sustained six concussions in his career. He issued legal proceedings against the IRFU, Ulster and World Rugby in March 2023 in relation to head injuries.Jonathan Bradley, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/former-irish-prop-declan-fitzpatrick-to-sue-ulster-rugby-and-irfu-over-alleged-concussion-injuries/42026510.html "Former Irish prop Declan Fitzpatrick to sue Ulster Rugby and IRFU over alleged concussion injuries"], Belfast Telegraph, 29 September 2022