Shane Jennings
{{for|the Connacht and Ireland Sevens rugby union player|Shane Jennings (rugby union, born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Shane Jennings
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Shane Jennings
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|7|8}}
| birth_place = Knocklyon, Dublin, Ireland
| height = 1.85 m
| weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb lb}}
| school = St Mary's College, Dublin
| position = Flanker
| ru_currentteam =
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = St Mary's College
| ru_amateurupdate =
| years1 = 2000–2005
| years2 = 2005–2007
| years3 = 2007–2015
| clubs1 = Leinster
| clubs2 = Leicester Tigers
| clubs3 = Leinster
| apps1 = 42
| apps2 = 60
| apps3 = 163
| points1 = 30
| points2 = 60
| points3 = 75
| ru_clubupdate = 18 March 2018
| repyears1 = 1999
| repyears2 = 2001
| repyears3 = 2005–2010
| repyears4 = 2007–2012
| repyears5 = 2015
| repteam1 = Ireland U19
| repteam2 = Ireland U21
| repteam3 = Ireland Wolfhounds
| repteam4 = Ireland
| repteam5 = Barbarians
| repcaps1 = 4
| repcaps2 = 9
| repcaps3 = 10
| repcaps4 = 13
| repcaps5 = 1
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 0
| reppoints3 = 5
| reppoints4 = 5
| reppoints5 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 28 May 2015
}}
Shane Jennings (born 8 July 1981) is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at openside flanker for Leinster Rugby and Ireland. He was also registered to St Mary's College.
Club career
Jennings impressed for Leinster in the 2004–05 Heineken Cup when Keith Gleeson was injured, however Gleeson returned from injury for the quarter final with Leicester Tigers, having had no previous game time. Leicester had previously identified Jennings as a threat. After the game which Leicester won 29–13, Leicester's retiring openside Neil Back approached Jennings and offered to open contract negotiations. He signed for Leicester for the 2006 season, along with fellow Leinster forward Leo Cullen, winning the English Premiership in 2007 and scoring a try in the final.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6637669.stm
|title=Premiership final
|publisher=BBC
|date=12 May 2007 |access-date=9 February 2020}} He re-signed for Leinster on a three-year contract for the start of the 2007/8 season winning the Magners League in 2008 and European Cup in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/members/index.asp?locID=20&docID=1471 |title=Leinster Rugby – Leinster sign Shane Jennings |access-date=2007-01-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928063544/http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/members/index.asp?locID=20&docID=1471 |archive-date=2007-09-28 }} In October 2009 he was banned for twelve weeks for making contact with the eye area of Nick Kennedy of London Irish in the first round of the Heineken Cup.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/8307549.stm|title=Jennings handed 12-week eye ban|date=14 October 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2009-10-14}} On 19 February 2015 Jennings announced he would retire at the end of the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|title=Shane Jennings to retire at the end of the season|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/0219/681390-shane-jennings-to-retire-at-the-end-of-the-season/|publisher=RTÉ|date=19 February 2015 |access-date=19 February 2015}}
International career
Jennings's international ambitions were hampered largely due to a surplus of quality Irish back row forwards during his playing career. He was named in the Irish squad for the Summer tour of Argentina and earned his first cap on 2 June 2007. Jennings was called into the Ireland A side that was defeated by England Saxons on 1 February 2008.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7217616.stm|title=Varndell shines in Saxons victory|publisher=BBC|date=2008-02-02|access-date=2008-02-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_10891.php |title=Ireland 'A' Go Down Fighting Against Saxons |publisher=IrishRugby.ie |date=2008-02-01 |access-date=2008-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204200724/http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_10891.php |archive-date=2008-02-04 |url-status=dead }} He wasn't initially named in Ireland's squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup,{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/14617597
|title=Rugby World Cup 2011: Murphy and Murray in Irish squad
|publisher=BBC
|date=22 August 2011 |access-date=9 March 2022}} but was then called up after an injury to David Wallace.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/14694785
|title=Rugby World Cup 2011: Ireland flanker Wallace ruled out
|publisher=BBC
|date=27 August 2011 |access-date=9 March 2022}} At the World Cup against Russia he scored his only international try.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/14992095
|title=Rugby World Cup 2011: Ireland 62-12 Russia
|publisher=BBC
|date=25 September 2011 |access-date=9 March 2022}} Jennings achieved 13 test caps throughout his career, his last coming against Scotland in the 2012 Six Nations.{{cite web|title=Shane Jennings|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/player/15207.html|publisher=ESPNscrum|access-date=19 February 2015}}
Honours
;Leinster
- Heineken Cup (3): 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
- European Challenge Cup (1): 2012–13
- Pro12 (3): 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14
;Leicester
Outside Rugby
Jennings grew up in Cremorne in Knocklyon, County Dublin, but moved to Rathfarnham with his mother Joan(and his two brothers) and her partner Norman Young when his parents separated in the early 1990s.
Jennings earned a BA in Business Studies in Portobello College and an MBA with the Dublin Business School.[https://www.rugbyplayersireland.ie/about/ Shane Jennings profile] About Rugby Players Ireland www.rugbyplayersireland.ie
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/members/index.asp?locID=37&docID=1785 Leinster profile]
- {{ESPNscrum|15207}}
- [http://www.irishrugby.ie/squads/index.php?player=4557&includeref=dynamic IRFU profile]
{{Ireland Squad 2011 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Barbarian RFC Captains in Internationals}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Shane}}
Category:St Mary's College RFC players
Category:Leinster Rugby players
Category:Leicester Tigers players
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Ireland international rugby union players
Category:Barbarian F.C. players
Category:Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players
Category:Alumni of Dublin Business School