Joshua James McNally (born 21 August 1990)[1] is an English rugby union lock. He is also a Royal Air Force weapons technician and has been in the RAF since 2009.[2]

Josh McNally
Birth nameJoshua James McNally
Date of birth (1990-08-21) 21 August 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthEly, Cambridgeshire
Height6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight19 st 13 lb (279 lb; 127 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Bath
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2014 Henley Hawks 44 (10)
2014–2017 London Welsh 37 (35)
2017–2019 London Irish 44 (55)
2019-2024 Bath 82 (40)
2024– Cardiff 0 (0)
Correct as of 19 December 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
- RAF - (-)
2015 UK Armed Forces Rugby 2 (5)
2021 England 1 (0)
Correct as of 19 December 2023

Rugby career

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McNally initially played rugby solely for the Royal Air Force, but in 2012 he was posted to RAF Brize Norton allowed to join Henley Hawks as part of the Royal Air Force Rugby Union Centre of Excellence Scheme.[3] After impressing in a pre-season match McNally earned a move to Premiership Rugby side London Welsh in June 2014.[3]

In January 2017, after relegation to the RFU Championship in the summer of 2017, McNally was released by London Welsh to allow him to join London Irish with immediate effect.[4] In January 2019 Bath announced that McNally would join them in the summer of 2019.[5][6]

On 4 July 2024, after announcing his departure from Bath, McNally has signed for Welsh region Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship from the 2024-25 season.[7]

Personal life

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In December 2017 McNally underwent heart surgery to correct a case of Patent foramen ovale,[8] and was later described as having suffered a stroke.[2][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Josh McNally ESPN profile". Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Josh McNally - "It was a tough five months, but now it makes me appreciate rugby so much"". The Rugby Mag. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Welsh sign Air Force second-row". ESPN scrum. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ^ "London Irish bring in London Welsh lock". The Rugby Paper. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Josh McNally: Bath sign forward from London Irish". BBC. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Josh McNally".
  7. ^ "Josh McNally: Cardiff sign lock from English side Bath". BBC Sport. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Josh McNally: London Irish lock targets March return after heart surgery". BBC Sport. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Despite suffering a stroke, Josh McNally has regained place at London Irish and helped RAF to title". The Daily Telegraph. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.