Andy Kyriacou
| Full name | Andrew Stephen Kyriacou | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 January 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 105 kg (16 st 7 lb) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Current team | Cardiff Blues | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Hooker | ||
| Youth clubs | |||
| Ormskirk RUFC | |||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2003–04 2003–04 2004–09 2006–07 (loan) 2009–12 2012– |
Sale Sharks Leeds Tykes Saracens Munster Rugby Ulster Rugby Cardiff Blues |
1 1 34 9 47 0 |
(0) (0) (5) (0) (5) (0) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2004 2009 |
England U21 Ireland A |
2 |
(0) |
Andy Kyriacou (born 4 January 1983) is an English-born Irish rugby union footballer who plays at hooker for Cardiff Blues.
He has also represented Saracens, Leeds Carnegie (then Leeds Tykes), Sale Sharks, Ulster Rugby as well as appearing for Munster Rugby on loan.
On the international stage he has represented England at Under 21 level and Ireland Wolfhounds.
Early life
Kyriacou was born 4 January 1983 in Liverpool, England. He is of Irish and Greek Cypriot ancestry.[1]
Playing career
Ormskirk RUFC
Andy started his rugby playing at Ormskirk RUFC, and was among a string of Lancashire representatives from the club.
Sale Sharks/Leeds Tykes 2003–04
Kyriacou's first senior season in top flight English rugby saw him appear for both Sale Sharks and Leeds Tykes (now Leeds Carnegie), including a debut in the Zurich Premiership.[2]
More recognition came at the international level in 2004, when Kyriacou was part of the England U21 Grand Slam winning side in the U21 Six Nations championship.[3]
Saracens 2004–2009
Kyriacou joined Saracens on 1 July 2004,[4] one of a number of players to make the move from Sale to Saracens in that season including Alex Sanderson, Iain Fullarton and Kevin Yates, as well as Matt Cairns who was returning to the club after a single season with the Sharks.[3] He made his debut in European competition against Rugby Parma on 4 December of that year, though his Guinness Premiership debut was not to come until the 2005–06 season, being instead a regular member of the clubs 'A' side.[4]
Facing competition from Cairns and Italian international Fabio Ongaro as well as Irish international Shane Byrne in earlier seasons, first team starts were still hard to come by, and the 2006–07 saw Kyriacou spend a successful loan spell with Munster Rugby, appearing for the club in both their Magners League and Heineken Cup squads. With the return of Byrne to Ireland and international commitments for Ongaro the 2007–08 season presented greater opportunities for Kyriacou back with Saracens.[4]
Ulster Rugby 2009–2012
In July 2009, Kyriacou signed a two-year contract with Ulster Rugby.[5] Whilst at Ulster, Kyriacou represented Ireland Wolfhounds.[6]
Cardiff Blues – 2012 to present
Kyriacou joined Cardiff Blues for the 2012–13 Pro 12.[7]
References
- ↑ "Kyriacou grasps opportunity this time". The Irish Times. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ↑ "Guinness Premiership Profile". Guinness Premiership. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
- 1 2 "Saracens sign up England U21 trio". Saracens. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
- 1 2 3 "Saracens Profile". Saracens. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
- ↑ "Ulster bring in hooker Kyriacou". BBC Sport. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ↑ "Ireland A 48–19 Tonga". BBC Sport. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ↑ "Cardiff Blues confirm Andi Kyriacou signing from Ulster". BBC Sport. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.