Gus McCarthy
{{short description|Irish rugby player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|7|23|df=y}}{{cite web|url= https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/gus-mccarthy-57328.html?utm_content=cmp-true|website=Its Rugby|accessdate=23 October 2024|title=Gus McCarthy}}
| birth_place = Ranelagh, Dublin
| image = Gus McCarthy 2025.jpg
| height = 188cm{{cite web|title=Gus McCarthy|accessdate=23 October 2024|url=https://all.rugby/player/gus-mccarthy|website=All Rugby}}
| weight = 107kg
| school = Blackrock College
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Hooker
| currentclub = Leinster
| years1 = 2024-
| clubs1 = Leinster
| apps1 = 13
| points1 = 0
| clubupdate = 05 April 2025
| repyears1 = 2023
| repteam1 = Ireland U20
| repcaps1 = 10
| reppoints1 = 20
| repyears2 = 2024–
| repteam2 = Ireland
| repcaps2 = 4
| reppoints2 = 10
| repupdate = 15 March 2025
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| medaltemplates =
}}
Gus McCarthy (born 23 July 2003) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Leinster Rugby and for the Ireland national rugby union team.
Early life
McCarthy was born on Rugby Road in Ranelagh, but his family moved to Blackrock, Dublin shortly after he was born. He played a number of sports growing up, including golf in Elm Park, mini rugby in Old Belvedere, Gaelic Football with Kilmacud Crokes and tennis in Blackrock Bowling & Tennis club. He attended Blackrock College and captained their rugby side to the Leinster Schools Cup in 2022. McCarthy has two sisters and a brother. {{cite web|website=Extra.ie|url=https://extra.ie/2024/10/23/sport/rugby/gus-mccarthy-who-is|title= Who is Gus McCarthy? Meeting the hooker who's burst onto the scene for Ireland|first=Martin|last=Healy|date=23 October 2024|accessdate=23 October 2024}}{{cite web|title=Gus McCarthy|website=Ultimate Rugby|accessdate=23 October 2024|url= https://www.ultimaterugby.com/gus-mccarthy}}{{cite web|url= https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/02/03/mccarthy-and-champions-ireland-looking-for-a-positive-start-to-new-campaign/|website=Irish Times|accessdate=23 October 2024|title= Gus McCarthy and champions Ireland looking for a positive start to new campaign|date=3 February 2023|first=John|last=O'Sullivan}}
Club career
Gus made his debut for Leinster Rugby in April 2024 away in South Africa against Stormers.{{cite web|url= https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/gus-mccarthy-set-for-debut-as-leinster-give-young-guns-a-chance-against-stormers/a1594709279.html|website=Independent.ie|accessdate=23 October 2024|title= Gus McCarthy set for debut as Leinster give young guns a chance against Stormers|first=David|last=Kelly|date=26 April 2024}} He made his first start for the club in the United Rugby Championship against Edinburgh in September 2024.{{cite web|title= Gus McCarthy makes first start for Leinster in URC opener|date=19 September 2024|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c5ywd525z77o|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=23 October 2024}} The young hooker became a regular starter for the club at the start of the 2024-25 season.{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/gus-mccarthy-ireland-leinster-6521233-Oct2024/|website=the42|accessdate=23 October 2024|title= 'It would be brilliant if he gets the opportunity' - Nienaber backs McCarthy for Ireland |date=23 October 2024}}
International career
McCarthy captained the Ireland U20 side to the 2023 U20 Six Nations grand slam. That same year he captained the Ireland U20 side to final of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, where the team placed second overall. The following year he toured with the Emerging Ireland squad.{{cite web|first=Johnny|last=Holland|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2024/1022/1476760-mccarthy-set-to-capitalise-on-irelands-hooker-injuries/|website=RTE|title= Gus McCarthy set to capitalise on Ireland's hooker injuries|date=22 Oct 2024|access-date=23 October 2024}}
In October 2024 he was called up to the senior Ireland squad as a training panellist.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/caelan-doris-to-lead-ireland-as-two-uncapped-rising-stars-make-35-man-squad/|website=Rugby Pass|accessdate=23 October 2024|title= Caelan Doris to lead Ireland as two uncapped rising stars make 35-man squad|date=22 October 2024|first=Josh|last=Raisey}} In November 2024, he made his debut in a 52-17 win against Fiji scoring a try in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.{{cite web |last1=Fanning |first1=Brendan |title=Ireland overwhelm Fiji as Prendergast gives Farrell a glimpse of bright future |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/23/ireland-fiji-autumn-nations-series-rugby-union-match-report |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=30 November 2024}} The following week, he scored for the first time off the bench with a try in 22-19 win over Australia on the 150th anniversary of the IRFU.{{cite web |last1=Gault |first1=Matt |title=Farrell signs off with win as Ireland edge past Wallabies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cr4l4e132v1o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=30 November 2024}}{{cite web|website=The Times|access-date=3 December 2024|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ireland-give-andy-farrell-fitting-lions-send-off-with-win-over-australia-zff9b36nl|title= Incredible yet unheralded Gus McCarthy comes to sloppy Ireland’s rescue|date=30 November 2024|first=Peter|last=O'Reilly}}
In February 2025, during the 2025 Six Nations, he was named on the bench to make his tournament debut against Wales,{{cite web |title=Ireland Team Named To Face Wales In Cardiff |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2025/02/20/ireland-team-named-to-face-wales-in-cardiff/ |publisher=Ireland Rugby |access-date=20 February 2025}} coming on in the 75th minute to replace Dan Sheehan.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Leinster Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Gus}}
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Leinster Rugby players
Category:People educated at Blackrock College
Category:People from Blackrock, Dublin
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen