Jack McGrath (born 11 October 1989) is a former Irish rugby union player who played loosehead prop. He played professionally for Leinster and Ulster and has also played international rugby for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.
McGrath made his senior debut for Leinster in April 2010 against Glasgow Warriors,Marcus Ó Buachalla, "Jack McGrath to join Ulster Rugby", Leinster Rugby, 2 April 2019 and became a regular member of the team in the 2011-12 season.ESPN profile He went on to make 142 appearances for the province, scoring 12 tries. During his time there, Leinster won the European Rugby Champions Cup twice, the European Rugby Challenge Cup once, the Pro12 twice, and the Pro14 once. He trained with the Ireland team ahead of the 2012 Six Nations Championship. He was named in the 34-man Ireland squad for the 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests, and was praised by Ireland captain Rory Best for his hard work in the scrum.Nick Purewall, "Best: Jack McGrath deserves his Samoan shot", Irish Independent, 8 November 2013 He started in the first of the tests against Samoa on 9 November 2013, and was named "Man of the match" for his performance.Ireland 49-9 Samoa, Autumn Internationals, 9 November 2013 He went on to earn 56 caps for his country.
In 2016 he helped launch the Irish Rugby Union Players Association's "Tackle Your Feelings" mental health campaign.Vivienne Clark, "Ireland’s Jack McGrath urges people to tackle their feelings", The Irish Times, 21 March 2016
He was selected for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand,Josh Raisey, "The remarkable progress 2017 Lions prop Jack McGrath is enjoying just two days after hip surgery", Rugby Pass, 27 April 2021 played 186 minutes on the tour, and appeared off the bench in all three tests, impressing with his tackling and scrummaging."2017 Lions player retrospective: Jack McGrath", Lions Rugby, 12 July 2017 He sustained a hip injury during the tour, and underwent minor surgery on his return.Adam McKendry, "Jack McGrath keen to make up for lost time with Ulster after hip resurfacing surgery", Belfast Telegraph, 26 December 2021
Once seen as the natural successor to Cian Healy, he lost his place in the Leinster and Ireland teams after Healy recovered from a hand injury.Ciarán Kennedy, "The 2017 Test Lion that selectors went cold on: what happened to Jack McGrath?", Rugby Pass, 11 May 2020 He moved to Ulster ahead of the 2019–20 season. He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship."Jack McGrath commits to Ulster Rugby for two more years", Ulster Rugby, 11 March 2020 By November 2020, after 20 appearances for Ulster, he suffered a recurrence of his hip injury which left him unable to carry out daily activities. He became only the third sportsman, after Seán O'Brien and Andy Murray, to undergo hip resurfacing surgery, and did not return to the Ulster team until December 2021."Jack McGrath returns to Ulster squad after injury lay-off as Gilroy gets set for 200th cap", The42, 3 December 2021 He signed a contract extension with Ulster in January 2022,"URC: Jack McGrath one of four players to sign Ulster contract extensions", Planet Rugby, 28 January 2022 but was released at the end of the 2021–22 season.Neil Treacy, "McGrath and Reidy among five Ulster departures", RTÉ Sport, 26 May 2022
On the 16 February 2023, he announced his retirement from professional rugby."'The last few years have been extremely testing' - former Ireland prop Jack McGrath retires after injury battle", Irish Independent, 16 Feb 2023
References
External links Ulster profile Leinster profile United Rugby Championship profile