Kevin O'Byrne

{{Infobox rugby biography

|name = Kevin O'Byrne

|image =Kevin O'Byrne 2018.jpg

|caption =

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|4|16}}

|birth_place = Cork, Ireland

|height = {{height|m=1.80}}

|weight = {{convert|105|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}}

|ru_position = Hooker

|amatyears1 =

|amatteam1 = UCC

|amatyears2 =

|amatteam2 = Highfield

|amatyears3 =

|amatteam3 = UL Bohemians

|amatyears4 =

|amatteam4 = Cork Constitution

|years1 = 2014–2022

|clubs1 = Munster

|apps1 = 90

|points1 = 40

|years2 = 2022–

|clubs2 = Ealing

|apps2 = 2

|points2 = 0

|clubupdate = 11 February 2023

|repyears1 =

|repteam1 =

|repcaps1 =

|reppoints1 =

|ru_ntupdate =

|spouse =

|children =

|relatives =

|school = Presentation Brothers College

|university =

}}

Kevin O'Byrne (born 16 April 1991) is an Irish rugby union player for English club Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship. He plays as a hooker.

Early life

He captained the Munster under-18s club side during the 2008–09 inter-provincials and was part of Highfield under-18s All-Ireland winning squad in 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2019/02/27/podcast-the-crooked-feed-kevin-obyrne/|title=Podcast {{!}} The Crooked Feed – Kevin O'Byrne|date=27 February 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=5 January 2021}}

Career

=Munster=

O'Byrne made his Munster debut on 5 September 2014, starting against Edinburgh in the first game of the 2014–15 Pro12 season.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-lose-opener-to-edinburgh/|title=Munster Lose Opener To Edinburgh|date=5 September 2014|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=12 March 2015}} He signed a one-year development contract with Munster in March 2015.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2015/03/11/front-row-trio-sign-up/|title=Front Row Trio Sign Up|date=11 March 2015|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=12 March 2015}} On 3 September 2016, O'Byrne went off injured in Munster's 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Scarlets. He was subsequently ruled out for 3 months with an elbow injury.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2016/09/08/player-update-3/|title=Player Update|date=8 September 2016|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=8 September 2016}}

O'Byrne made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut for Munster on 21 October 2017, doing so when he came on as a replacement for Rhys Marshall in the round 2 fixture against Racing 92.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/preview/munster-side-named-racing-92/|title=Munster Side Named For Racing 92|date=20 October 2017|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/gutsy-win-thomond/|title=Gutsy Win in Thomond|date=21 October 2017|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 October 2017}} He scored his first try for Munster on 3 November 2017, having come on as a replacement in the 2017–18 Pro14 fixture against Welsh side Dragons, which Munster won 49–6.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-dragons/|title=Too much firepower for Dragons|date=3 November 2017|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=4 November 2017}}

He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in January 2018.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/01/10/contract-signings/|title=Contract Signings|date=10 January 2018|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=11 January 2018}} He earned the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 30–26 away win against South African side Cheetahs during the 2018–19 Pro14 on 4 November 2018.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-down-cheetahs/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Down Cheetahs In Thriller|date=4 November 2018|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=4 November 2018}} O'Byrne won his 50th cap for Munster in their opening 2019–20 Pro14 fixture against Welsh side Dragons on 28 September 2019, a match Munster won 39–9.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-bonus-point-win-over-dragons-at-thomond/|title=Report {{!}} Bonus-Point Win Over Dragons At Thomond|date=28 September 2019|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=28 September 2019}}

He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in March 2020, a deal that will see O'Byrne remain with the province until at least June 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2020/03/05/kilcoyne-obyrne-sign-contract-extensions/|title=Kilcoyne & O'Byrne Sign Contract Extensions|date=5 March 2020|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=5 March 2020}} O'Byrne was rewarded for a series of strong performances by being named in the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2021/04/01/guinness-pro14-dream-team-de-allende-holland-and-obyrne-included/|title=Guinness PRO14 Dream Team {{!}} de Allende, Holland and O'Byrne Included|date=1 April 2021|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=1 April 2021}} O'Byrne departed Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.ealingtrailfinders.com/news/ealing-trailfinders-sign-kevin-o-byrne|title=Ealing Trailfinders Sign Kevin O'Byrne|date=23 May 2022|work=Ealing Trailfinders|access-date=23 May 2022}}