Donal Martin Canniffe (born 14 August 1949) is an Irish former rugby union international.

Donal Canniffe
Full nameDonal Martin Canniffe
Date of birth (1949-08-14) 14 August 1949 (age 75)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1976 Ireland 2 (0)

Canniffe, the youngest son of Irish hurler Dan Canniffe, was raised in Cork.[1]

A scrum-half, Canniffe played for Cork Constitution, Munster and Lansdowne.[2] He was capped twice for Ireland in the 1976 Five Nations Championship and was the reserve scrum-half to John Robbie on that year's tour of New Zealand, during which he suffered a tour ending ankle injury.[3] In 1978, he was captain of the Munster side that defeated the All Blacks at Thomond Park, then found out after the match that his father had collapsed at half-time and died.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Shannon, Kieran (20 November 2016). "Donal Canniffe: 'A huge win and a huge loss. I can't separate them'". Irish Examiner.
  2. ^ "The Munster heroes of 1978 who beat the All Blacks: where are they now?". Irish Independent. 27 October 2018.
  3. ^ "McGrath's chance". The Guardian. 29 May 1976.
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