Stephen Archer
{{short description|Irish rugby union player}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
|name = Stephen Archer
|image = Stephen Archer 2017.jpg
|caption = Stephen Archer in 2017
|birth_name =
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|1|29}}
|birth_place = Cork, Ireland
|height = {{height|m=1.88}}
|weight = {{convert|118|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}}
|position = Prop
|amatyears1 =
|amatteam1 = Cork Constitution
|years1 = 2009–2025
|clubs1 = Munster
|apps1 = 306
|points1 = 30
|clubupdate = 31 May 2025
|repyears1 = 2008
|repteam1 = Ireland U20
|repcaps1 = 8
|reppoints1 = 5
|repyears2 = 2012–2014
|repteam2 = Ireland Wolfhounds
|repcaps2 = 2
|reppoints2 = 0
|repyears3 = 2013
|repteam3 = Ireland
|repcaps3 = 2
|reppoints3 = 0
|repyears4 = 2015
|repteam4 = Emerging Ireland
|repcaps4 = 3
|reppoints4 = 0
|repupdate = 22 June 2015
|spouse =
|children =
|relatives =
|school = Christian Brothers College
|university =
}}
Stephen Archer (born 29 January 1988) is an Irish former rugby union player who played as a prop. He last played for United Rugby Championship club Munster.
Munster
Archer made his Munster debut as a replacement against Edinburgh during a Celtic League fixture on 23 October 2009.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/no-consolation-at-all-in-murrayfield/|title=No Consolation At All In Murrayfield|date=23 October 2009|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=18 May 2012}} He was part of the historic Munster team that beat Australia 15–6 at Thomond Park on 16 November 2010.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/class-of-2010-excel/|title=Class of 2010 Excel|date=17 November 2010|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=18 May 2012}} He made his Heineken Cup debut as a replacement in Munster's Round 5 26–10 win against Castres on 14 January 2012, during the 2011–12 Heineken Cup.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/fifth-successive-wins-sees-munster-through/|title=Fifth Successive Wins Sees Munster Through|date=15 January 2012|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=18 May 2012}}
Archer was part of the team that defeated newly crowned Heineken Cup champions, and arch-rivals, Leinster 19–9 in the 2011 Magners League Grand Final on 28 May 2011.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-crowned-magners-league-champions/|title=Munster Crowned Magners League Champions|date=28 May 2011|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=18 May 2012}} With Munster A, Archer won the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report_nostats/munster-prove-too-strong/|title=Munster Prove Too Strong|date=27 April 2012|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=29 April 2012}} He scored his first try for Munster in a 2011–12 Pro12 league fixture against Ulster on 5 May 2012. He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in January 2013.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2013/01/22/archer-keatley-extend-their-contracts/|title=Archer & Keatley Extend Their Contracts|date=22 January 2013|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 January 2013}} In October 2015, Archer was ruled out for a number of months after sustaining a neck injury that required surgery.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/preview/side-named-for-cardiff/|title=Side Named For Cardiff|date=16 October 2015|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=16 October 2015}}
Archer made his 150th appearance for Munster on 1 January 2018, doing so when he came off the bench against Ulster in a 2017–18 Pro14 fixture.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/01/04/stats-pics-season-far/|title=Stats & Pics: Season So Far|date=4 January 2018|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=5 January 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}} Archer made his 150th United Rugby Championship appearance in Munster's 37–28 win against Italian side Benetton in round 20 of the 2018–19 season on 12 April 2019.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-battle-for-bonus-point-win-against-benetton/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Battle For Bonus Point Win Against Benetton|date=13 April 2019|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=13 April 2019}} He won his 200th cap for Munster in their 2019–20 Pro14 round 7 fixture against Edinburgh on 29 November 2019, becoming the eleventh player to achieve the accolade for the province.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2019/11/27/archie-set-to-join-illustrious-200-club/|title=Archie Set To Join Illustrious 200 Club|date=27 November 2019|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=29 November 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-suffer-narrow-edinburgh-defeat/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Suffer Narrow Edinburgh Defeat|date=29 November 2019|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=30 November 2019}}
Archer signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in January 2020,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2020/01/27/six-players-commit-to-munster/|title=Six Players Commit To Munster|date=27 January 2020|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=27 January 2020}} and signed a one-year contract extension in January 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/01/12/key-players-continue-to-commit-to-munster-rugby/|title=Key Players Continue To Commit To Munster Rugby|date=12 January 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=12 January 2022}} He won his 50th Champions Cup cap for Munster in their 26–10 home win against English club Exeter Chiefs in the second leg of their 2021–22 Champions Cup round of 16 clash on 16 April 2022,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-into-19th-champions-cup-quarter-final/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Into 19th Champions Cup Quarter-Final|date=16 April 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=16 April 2022}} and he overtook Billy Holland to become the second most capped Munster player of all-time when he won his 248th cap for the province in their 36–17 away defeat against Ulster in the quarter-finals of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship on 3 June 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-lose-to-ulster-in-belfast/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Lose To Ulster In Belfast|date=3 June 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=5 June 2022}} Archer earned his 250th cap for Munster in their 2022–23 United Rugby Championship round three fixture against Italian side Zebre Parma on 1 October 2022, coming in as a replacement for Keynan Knox.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-beat-zebre-at-musgrave-park/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Beat Zebre At Musgrave Park|date=1 October 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=3 October 2022}}
Archer signed a one-year contract extension with Munster in February 2023,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2023/02/16/new-signing-contract-extensions-alex-nankivell/|title=New Signing & Contract Extensions|date=16 February 2023|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=16 February 2023}} and started in Munster's 19–14 win against the Stormers in the final of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 27 May 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41149351.html|title=Magical Munster see off Stormers to win URC title and end trophy drought|date=27 May 2023|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=27 May 2023}}
In April 2025, Archer confirmed that he would be retiring at the end of the 2024–25 Munster Rugby season and played his final game for Munster on 31 May in the defeat to the Sharks in the Quarter-final of the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship. He retired as Munster’s most-capped player.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/2025/0602/1516336-munster-set-for-changing-of-the-guard-after-narrow-loss/|title= Munster set for changing of the guard after narrow loss|date=3 June 2025|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=4 June 2025}}
Ireland
Archer has represented Ireland at underage levels up to Under-20. He received his first senior call-up when he was selected in the Ireland Wolfhounds squad for their game against England Saxons in January 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/6870.php|title=Ireland And O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Squads Announced|date=18 January 2012|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=19 January 2012}} He went on to make his Wolfhounds debut against England Saxons on 28 January 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/5237.php|title=Defeat For Ireland Wolfhounds In Exeter|date=28 January 2012|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=18 May 2012}}
Archer was selected on the bench for Ireland's 2013 Six Nations Championship game against France on 9 March 2013, his first senior call-up,{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27196.php|title=Jackson Named To Start Against France|date=7 March 2013|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=9 March 2013}} though he did not come on during the 13–13 draw.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21706934|title=Six Nations 2013: France recover to draw with Ireland|date=9 March 2013|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=10 March 2013}} Archer made his senior debut for Ireland a week later, coming off the bench against Italy. On 23 October 2013, Archer was named in the Ireland squad for the 2013 Autumn Tests.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27585.php|title=Ireland Squad Announced For GUINNESS Series|date=23 October 2013|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=2 November 2013}} He came off the bench against Australia on 16 November 2013 to win his second, and, so far, last cap.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/29324.php|title=Ireland Undone By Four-Try Wallabies|date=16 November 2013|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=18 November 2013}}
Archer came off the bench for Ireland Wolfhounds against England Saxons on 25 January 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/29325.php|title=Wolfhounds Hold On For Hard-Fought Victory|date=25 January 2014|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=26 January 2014}} He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2014 Guinness Series on 21 October 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/32731.php|title=Ireland Name 37 Man Squad For Guinness Series|date=21 October 2014|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=21 October 2014}} Archer was named in the Emerging Ireland squad for the 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup on 19 May 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34614.php|title=Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Tbilisi Cup|date=19 May 2015|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=19 May 2015}} He started in the opening 25–0 win against Emerging Italy on 13 June 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/34807.php|title=Emerging Ireland Off The Mark With Bonus Point Win|date=13 June 2015|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=14 June 2015}} Archer started in the 33–7 win against Uruguay on 17 June 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/34831.php|title=Emerging Ireland Earn Second Bonus Point Victory|date=17 June 2015|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=17 June 2015}} He also started in the 45–12 win against Georgia on 21 June 2015, a win which secured the tournament for Emerging Ireland.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/34861.php|title=Emerging Ireland Lift Tbilisi Cup After Third Bonus Point Win|date=21 June 2015|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=22 June 2015}}
Honours
=Munster=
- United Rugby Championship:
- Winner (2): 2010–11, 2022–23
=Emerging Ireland=
- World Rugby Tbilisi Cup
- Winner (1): (2015)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sport links}}
- [https://munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=SA173447 Munster Profile]
- [https://www.irishrugby.ie/player/?PlayGuid=SA173447 Ireland Profile]
- {{EPCR profile|SA173447}}
- [https://www.unitedrugby.com/clubs/munster/stephen-archer URC Profile]
- [https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/player/?PlayGuid=SA173447&TeamId=1875 U20 Six Nations Profile]
{{Munster Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Stephen}}
Category:Rugby union players from Cork (city)
Category:People educated at Christian Brothers College, Cork
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Cork Constitution players
Category:Munster Rugby players
Category:Ireland international rugby union players
Category:Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players