Niyi Adeolokun
{{Short description|Irish rugby union player (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{infobox rugby biography
| name = Niyi Adeolokun
| image = Niyi Adeolokun 2016.jpg
| caption = Adeolokun in 2016
| birth_name = Adeniyi Adeolokun
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|11|3|df=yes}}
| nickname =
| birth_place = Ibadan, Nigeria
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = {{convert|96|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}}
| position = Wing
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Dublin University
| amatyears2 =
| amatteam2 = Galwegians
| years1 = 2014–2020
| years2 = 2020–2022
| clubs1 = Connacht
| clubs2 = Bristol Bears
| apps1 = 93
| apps2 = 22
| points1 = 165
| points2 = 20
| clubupdate = 28 June 2022
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Ireland}}
| repteam2 = Barbarians F.C.
| repyears1 = 2016
| repyears2 = 2018–2019
| repcaps1 = 1
| repcaps2 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 6 June 2021
| occupation =
| school = De La Salle College
| university = Trinity College
}}
Niyi Adeolokun (born 3 November 1990) is an Irish rugby union player. He primarily plays as a winger. Currently unattached he most recently played for Bristol Bears and previously for Connacht. Adeolokun joined Connacht in 2014 from Trinity College. During his time with Dublin University, Adeolokun also played rugby sevens for the club.
Early life
Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, Adeolokun came to Ireland with his family in 2001 aged 11. He played a wide array of sports in his youth, playing Gaelic football with Templeogue Synge Street and also played soccer for League of Ireland side Shelbourne's under-20 team.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/analysis-connacht-tries-leinster-pro12-final-2794715-May2016/ | work=The42 | title=Analysis: Connacht's sensational attack brings them Pro12 glory | date=29 May 2016 | accessdate=30 August 2016 | quote=The 25-year-old has a rich sporting background in Gaelic football with Templeogue Synge Street and soccer – having played for Shelbourne’s U20 side}} Adeolokun first played rugby union as a student at De La Salle College in Churchtown.{{cite web| url=http://www.connachtrugby.ie/from-ail-to-pro12-for-speedy-adeolokun/| work=Connacht Rugby | title=From AIL to PRO12 for speedy Adeolokun | accessdate=11 September 2015 | date=12 September 2014}}
Club career
=Youth and amateur level=
Adeolokun was tied with Leinster as a teenager, but after being dropped from their under-19 development squad, Adeolokun played for De La Salle senior school's cup team. In 2009, he was invited All-Ireland League side Dublin University by Director of Rugby, Tony Smeeth. Adeolokun played for the team for four seasons. During his time with the squad also played for the Dublin University Sevens team that won back-to-back All-Ireland Championships in 2011 and 2012.
=Connacht=
In June 2014, it was announced that Adeolokun had signed for Irish provincial team, Connacht on a one-year deal. Connacht's academy coach Nigel Carolan had recommended him to the province, with Adeolokun having had a trial with the second tier side Connacht Eagles, in April 2014.{{cite web| url=http://www.setanta.com/ien/articles/2014/06/16/connacht-bring-in-adeolokun-/gnid-166163/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128061332/http://www.setanta.com/ien/articles/2014/06/16/connacht-bring-in-adeolokun-/gnid-166163/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 November 2023 | work=Setanta Sports | title=Connacht bring in Adeolokun | accessdate=11 September 2015 | date=16 June 2014}}
Adeolokun made his debut for Connacht on 6 September 2014, starting against Newport Gwent Dragons on the opening weekend of the 2014–15 Pro12, providing an assist to teammate Eoin McKeon for Connacht's first try of the new season. He scored his first try for the province against La Rochelle in the 2014–15 Rugby Challenge Cup. Adeolokun played a total of nine games in the league and four in the Challenge Cup in his first season, scoring a try in each.{{cite web | url=http://www.pro12rugby.com/teams/connacht/squad.php?player=116697&includeref=dynamic#AxSRKL484gIIxCWJ.97 | work=Pro12 Rugby | title=Connacht Squad Index: Niyi Adeolokun | accessdate=11 September 2015 | archive-date=2 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402093134/http://www.pro12rugby.com/teams/connacht/squad.php?player=116697&includeref=dynamic#AxSRKL484gIIxCWJ.97 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/player_archive.php?player=116697&includeref=dynamic | publisher=European Professional Club Rugby | title=Player Archive: Niyi Adeolokun | accessdate=11 September 2015 | archive-date=20 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220125118/http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/player_archive.php?player=116697&includeref=dynamic | url-status=dead }} In November 2014, it was announced that Adeolokun had signed a new contract with Connacht to keep him with the team until the end of 2016–17 season.{{cite web| url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/pro12/2014/1126/662639-connacht-extend-adeolokun-contract/ | publisher=RTÉ Sport | title=Connacht extend Niyi Adeolokun contract | accessdate=24 September 2020| date=26 November 2014}}
On 28 May 2016, Connacht won their first ever major trophy, the 2015–16 Pro12 after a 20-10 win against Leinster in the final, Adeolokun scored the second try of the match.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/connacht-leinster-pro12-final-liveblog-2793936-May2016/|title=2016 Pro12 Final: as it happened|date=28 May 2016|work=The42.ie|accessdate=31 May 2016}}
=Bristol Bears=
In August 2020 it was confirmed Adeolokun had joined Premiership Rugby side Bristol Bears on a short-term contract for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.{{cite web|title=Trio arrive as injury cover on short-term deals|url=https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/trio-arrive-as-injury-cover-on-short-term-deals/|accessdate=27 August 2020|publisher=Bristol Bears|date=27 August 2020}} He signed a one-year extension ahead of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|title=Trio sign permanent deals with Bears|url=https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/trio-sign-permanent-deals-with-bears/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=Bristol Bears|date=8 November 2020 |language=en}}
International career
In November 2016 Adeolokun received his first call-up to the senior Ireland team.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37901414|title=Jordi Murphy: Ireland flanker out for 'six to nine months' because of knee injury|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 November 2016|accessdate=7 November 2016}} He made his debut for Ireland on 12 November 2016, coming as a 67th minute replacement for Craig Gilroy against {{nrut|Canada}}.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-canada-match-report-november-2016-3078734-Nov2016/ | work=The42.ie | title=Connacht influence strong as Schmidt's Ireland run eight tries past Canada | date=12 November 2016 | accessdate=12 November 2016|publisher=Journal Media}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ultimaterugby.com/niyi-adeolokun Ultimate Rugby profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adeolokun, Niyi}}
Category:Sportspeople from Ibadan
Category:Nigerian emigrants to Ireland
Category:Irish people of Nigerian descent
Category:Nigerian rugby union players
Category:Dublin University Football Club players
Category:Connacht Rugby players
Category:Bristol Bears players
Category:Ireland international rugby union players