Wikipedia

Chris Farrell

Christopher Robert Eric Farrell (born 16 March 1993) is an Irish rugby union player for French Pro D2 club Oyonnax. He plays as a centre.

Chris Farrell
Farrell playing for Grenoble
Birth nameChristopher Robert Eric Farrell
Date of birth (1993-03-16) 16 March 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthFivemiletown, Northern Ireland
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st; 240 lb)
SchoolFivemiletown College
Campbell College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–2014 Clogher Valley RFC ()
2017–2023 Young Munster ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014 Ulster 5 (0)
2014–2017 Grenoble 74 (50)
2017–2023 Munster 71 (45)
2023– Oyonnax 7 (5)
Correct as of 27 May 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Ireland U20 9 (5)
2017–2021 Ireland 15 (5)
Correct as of 3 July 2021

Early life

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Farrell grew up in Fivemiletown, a village in south Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His initial sporting passion was soccer and he played centre-half for a local team, before he started playing rugby at the age of 11 for Clogher Valley RFC in County Tyrone.[1]

Professional clubs

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Ulster

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In December 2011, Farrell, then aged 18, made his Ulster debut against Leinster.[2]

Grenoble

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At the beginning of the 2014–15 Top 14 season, Farrell joined French Top 14 side FC Grenoble, where Bernard Jackman, formerly of Connacht, Leinster and Ireland, was coach.[3] Farrell made his debut against La Rochelle off the bench and made his first start against Oyonnax.[4]

Munster

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On 24 January 2017, it was announced that Farrell would be joining Irish province Munster on a two-year contract, beginning at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season.[5] Farrell made his competitive debut for Munster on 1 September 2017, starting the provinces opening 2017–18 Pro14 fixture against Benetton in Irish Independent Park, Cork.[6] Farrell scored his first try for Munster in their fixture against South African side Cheetahs on 9 September 2017, helping the province to a 51–18 win in Thomond Park.[7] He was ruled out for 6–8 weeks following a knee injury sustained whilst playing for Ireland.[8] He returned from the injury on 6 January 2018, starting in Munster's 39–13 win against Connacht.[9]

A knee injury Farrell suffered while with the Ireland squad during the 2018 Six Nations required surgery, and subsequently ruled him out of the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[10] He signed a three-year contract extension with Munster in October 2018.[11] Farrell returned from the aforementioned knee injury on 25 November 2018, featuring off the bench in Munster's 2018–19 Pro14 round 9 fixture against Italian side Zebre.[12] He scored two tries and earned the Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 44–14 win against Edinburgh on 30 November 2018.[13]

Farrell won his 50th cap for Munster in their 35–14 away win against English club Wasps in round 1 of the 2021–22 Champions Cup on 12 December 2021,[14][15] and signed a two-year contract extension with the province in January 2022,[16] but was released from the contract early in March 2023.[17]

Oyonnax

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Farrell joined French Pro D2 club Oyonnax in March 2023.[18] Having joined as a medical joker, Farrell secured a two-year contract extension with the club,[19] and went on to help the club secure promotion to the Top 14 after they defeated Grenoble to win the 2022–23 Rugby Pro D2 season.[20]

Ireland

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Farrell earned his first senior international call-up in October 2017, being named in the Ireland squad for the 2017 Autumn Internationals.[21] He made his first appearance for Ireland on 18 November 2017, starting against Fiji.[22] Farrell also started in Ireland's win against Argentina, though he went off injured during the second-half.[8] Farrell made his Six Nations debut on 24 February 2018, starting against Wales and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Ireland's 37–27 win.[23] However, a knee injury sustained during training ruled Farrell out of the remainder of the tournament.[24][10]

Farrell was selected in the 31-man Ireland squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup,[25] having featured in the warm-up matches against Italy,[26] and Wales.[27] During the World Cup itself, Farrel was used as a replacement in Ireland's opening 27–3 win against Scotland,[28] and he started in their shock 19–12 defeat against hosts Japan.[29] When the 2020 Six Nations resumed in October 2020 following a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Farrell featured as a replacement in Ireland's 35–27 defeat against France in their final fixture of the tournament.[30]

With the usual format of end-of-year international tests not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ireland instead participated in the Autumn Nations Cup. Farrell started in the 32–9 opening win against Wales on 13 November,[31] the 18–7 defeat against England on 21 November,[32] and the 23–10 win against Georgia on 29 November,[33] then featured off the bench in the 31–16 win against Scotland on 5 December, which secured a third-place finish for Ireland in the tournament.[34] During the 2021 July rugby union tests, Farrell started in Ireland's 39–31 win against Japan,[35] however, a head injury sustained during the game ruled Farrell out of Ireland's final test against the United States.[36] A hip injury ruled Farrell out of the 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand.[37]

Statistics

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International analysis by opposition

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Against Played Won Lost Drawn Tries Points % Won
  Argentina 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
  England 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
  Fiji 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
  France 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
  Georgia 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
  Italy 2 2 0 0 0 0 100
  Japan 2 1 1 0 1 5 50
  Scotland 3 3 0 0 0 0 100
  Wales 3 3 0 0 0 0 100
Total 15 12 3 0 1 5 80

Correct as of 3 July 2021[38]

Honours

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Munster

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Oyonnax

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Ireland under-18s

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Ireland

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References

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  1. ^ "Chris Farrell launches his climb back to the top at foot of the Alps". Irish Times. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Chris Farrell: Young Star Making His Mark". Ulster Rugby.
  3. ^ "Chris Farrell to leave Ulster for French pastures". Newsletter. 1 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Ulsterman Chris Farrell enjoying fresh start in Top 14 with Grenoble". The42. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Munster Confirm Latest Signings". Munster Rugby. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Munster Off to Flying Start". Munster Rugby. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Munster Tame Cheetahs With Eight-Try Rout". Munster Rugby. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Squad Update". Munster Rugby. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Five-Try Win For Munster Over Connacht". Munster Rugby. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Farrell Injury Update". Munster Rugby. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Player Contract Boost Continues". Munster Rugby. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Report | Bonus Point Win in Parma". Munster Rugby. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Report | Munster Ease Past Edinburgh". Munster Rugby. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Team Named | Munster Side To Face Wasps". Munster Rugby. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Report | Epic Bonus-Point Win For Munster In Coventry". Munster Rugby. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Six Munster Players Sign Two-Year Contract Extensions". Munster Rugby. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Farrell set for move to France after Munster confirm release". The42. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Squad Update | Preparations Begin For Glasgow At Thomond". Munster Rugby. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Oyonnax take decision on the future of medical joker Chris Farrell". RugbyPass. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Rugby : Oyonnax, champion de Pro D2, va retrouver le Top 14, revivez la finale des barrages entre les Oyomen et Grenoble". France 3 (in French). 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Four Uncapped Players Included In Ireland's GUINNESS Series Squad". Irish Rugby. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Keatley Kicks Ireland Home In Bruising Battle With Fiji". Irish Rugby. 19 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Ireland Strengthen Title Challenge With Stirring Win Over Wales". Irish Rugby. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Injury Update – Chris Farrell". Munster Rugby. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Ireland's Rugby World Cup Squad Named". IRFU. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Five-Try Triumph Gets Ireland Up And Running". IRFU. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Stockdale at the double as Schmidt's Ireland cling on for victory in Cardiff". The42. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Pack Points The Way As Ireland Sweep Scotland Aside". Irish Rugby. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Japan 19-12 Ireland: Dazzling display gives hosts shock victory". BBC Sport. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Ireland Rue Missed Chances As Fluent France Come Out On Top". Irish Rugby. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland defeat Wales 32-9 in tournament opener". BBC Sport. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  32. ^ "England 18-7 Ireland: Jonny May stars in emphatic and entertaining victory for hosts". BBC Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Ireland 23-10 Georgia: Uninspired Irish beat Georgia". Sky Sports. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Ireland 31-16 Scotland: Hosts finish third in Autumn Nations Cup". BBC Sport. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  35. ^ "Ireland Outlast Japan In Exciting Nine-Try Encounter". Irish Rugby. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  36. ^ "Farrell and Larmour ruled out of US clash as O'Mahony begins off-season". The42. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Squad Update". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  38. ^ Chris Farrell, ESPN Scrum, 3 October 2019
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