Introduction
Shane Daly (born 19 December 1996) is an Irish rugby union player for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup Munster. He plays primarily as a centre, but can also play wing. Daly represents Cork Constitution in the All-Ireland League.
Early life
Born in Cork, Daly first began playing rugby for Highfield R.F.C. He attended Presentation Brothers College, Cork, where he played in the Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup, though injury prevented him from breaking through at age grade until under-20 level, during which time he won an U20 inter-provincial title with Munster.
Cork Constitution
Daly was part of the Con team that won the All-Ireland League Division 1A, Munster Senior Cup and All-Ireland Cup during the 2016–17 season, as well as winning a second Senior Cup and All-Ireland League during the 2018–19 season.
Munster
Daly made his debut for Munster A their 2017–18 British and Irish Cup win against Ospreys Premiership Select on 14 October 2017, with Daly starting on the left-wing in the 24–6 victory.
He was named in his first senior Munster match squad in April 2018, being selected on the bench for the provinces' 2017–18 Pro14 fixture against Ulster, though Daly was not used as a replacement during the 24–24 draw. Daly finally made his competitive debut for Munster on 1 September 2018, starting in the provinces' opening 2018–19 Pro14 fixture against Cheetahs in Thomond Park, a game which Munster won 38–0.
He signed a two-year contract with Munster in October 2018, a deal that will see Daly join the senior team from the 2019–20 season, and scored his first try for the province in their 37–28 away win against Italian side Benetton on 12 April 2019.
In Munster's opening fixture of the 2019–20 Pro14 against Welsh side Dragons on 28 September 2019, Daly scored a try and earned the Man-of-the-Match award in the provinces 39–9 win.
Ireland
Daly represented Ireland U20 during the 2016 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, starting every game and scoring two tries in the former, and scoring a try in the final of the latter as Ireland U20 finished the tournament as runners-up, their best ever result.
Daly has also represented Ireland 7s, where he plays as a forward. He was selected in the squad for the 2017–18 season. He was a member of the Ireland squad that finished seventh at the 2018 Paris Sevens. He was also part of the squad that finished in ninth place and won the Challenge Trophy at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, beating Australia 24–14 in the final. He was included in the squads for the 2019 Paris Sevens and the 2019 Rugby Europe Sevens Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Honours
Cork Constitution
- All-Ireland League Division 1A:
- Winner (2): 2016–17, 2018–19
- All-Ireland Cup:
- Winner (1): 2016–17
- Munster Senior Cup:
- Winner (2): 2016–17, 2018–19