Birth name | Christopher Robert Eric Farrell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 16 March 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Fivemiletown, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 110 kg (17 st; 240 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Fivemiletown College Campbell College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Christopher Robert Eric Farrell (born 16 March 1993) is an Irish rugby union player for French Pro D2 club Oyonnax. He plays as a centre.
Farrell grew up in Fivemiletown, a village in south Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His initial sporting passion was soccer and he played centre-half for a local team, before he started playing rugby at the age of 11 for Clogher Valley RFC in County Tyrone. [1]
In December 2011, Farrell, then aged 18, made his Ulster debut against Leinster. [2]
At the beginning of the 2014–15 Top 14 season, Farrell joined French Top 14 side FC Grenoble, where Bernard Jackman, formerly of Connacht, Leinster and Ireland, was coach. [3] Farrell made his debut against La Rochelle off the bench and made his first start against Oyonnax. [4]
On 24 January 2017, it was announced that Farrell would be joining Irish province Munster on a two-year contract, beginning at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season. [5] Farrell made his competitive debut for Munster on 1 September 2017, starting the provinces opening 2017–18 Pro14 fixture against Benetton in Irish Independent Park, Cork. [6] Farrell scored his first try for Munster in their fixture against South African side Cheetahs on 9 September 2017, helping the province to a 51–18 win in Thomond Park. [7] He was ruled out for 6–8 weeks following a knee injury sustained whilst playing for Ireland. [8] He returned from the injury on 6 January 2018, starting in Munster's 39–13 win against Connacht. [9]
A knee injury Farrell suffered while with the Ireland squad during the 2018 Six Nations required surgery, and subsequently ruled him out of the remainder of the 2017–18 season. [10] He signed a three-year contract extension with Munster in October 2018. [11] Farrell returned from the aforementioned knee injury on 25 November 2018, featuring off the bench in Munster's 2018–19 Pro14 round 9 fixture against Italian side Zebre. [12] He scored two tries and earned the Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 44–14 win against Edinburgh on 30 November 2018. [13]
Farrell won his 50th cap for Munster in their 35–14 away win against English club Wasps in round 1 of the 2021–22 Champions Cup on 12 December 2021, [14] [15] and signed a two-year contract extension with the province in January 2022, [16] but was released from the contract early in March 2023. [17]
Farrell joined French Pro D2 club Oyonnax in March 2023. [18] Having joined as a medical joker, Farrell secured a two-year contract extension with the club, [19] and went on to help the club secure promotion to the Top 14 after they defeated Grenoble to win the 2022–23 Rugby Pro D2 season. [20]
Farrell earned his first senior international call-up in October 2017, being named in the Ireland squad for the 2017 Autumn Internationals. [21] He made his first appearance for Ireland on 18 November 2017, starting against Fiji. [22] Farrell also started in Ireland's win against Argentina, though he went off injured during the second-half. [8] Farrell made his Six Nations debut on 24 February 2018, starting against Wales and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Ireland's 37–27 win. [23] However, a knee injury sustained during training ruled Farrell out of the remainder of the tournament. [24] [10]
Farrell was selected in the 31-man Ireland squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, [25] having featured in the warm-up matches against Italy, [26] and Wales. [27] During the World Cup itself, Farrel was used as a replacement in Ireland's opening 27–3 win against Scotland, [28] and he started in their shock 19–12 defeat against hosts Japan. [29] When the 2020 Six Nations resumed in October 2020 following a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Farrell featured as a replacement in Ireland's 35–27 defeat against France in their final fixture of the tournament. [30]
With the usual format of end-of-year international tests not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ireland instead participated in the Autumn Nations Cup. Farrell started in the 32–9 opening win against Wales on 13 November, [31] the 18–7 defeat against England on 21 November, [32] and the 23–10 win against Georgia on 29 November, [33] then featured off the bench in the 31–16 win against Scotland on 5 December, which secured a third-place finish for Ireland in the tournament. [34] During the 2021 July rugby union tests, Farrell started in Ireland's 39–31 win against Japan, [35] however, a head injury sustained during the game ruled Farrell out of Ireland's final test against the United States. [36] A hip injury ruled Farrell out of the 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand. [37]
Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tries | Points | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fiji | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
France | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Italy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 50 |
Scotland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Wales | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Total | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 80 |
Correct as of 3 July 2021 [38]
Birth name | Christopher Robert Eric Farrell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 16 March 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Fivemiletown, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 110 kg (17 st; 240 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Fivemiletown College Campbell College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Christopher Robert Eric Farrell (born 16 March 1993) is an Irish rugby union player for French Pro D2 club Oyonnax. He plays as a centre.
Farrell grew up in Fivemiletown, a village in south Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His initial sporting passion was soccer and he played centre-half for a local team, before he started playing rugby at the age of 11 for Clogher Valley RFC in County Tyrone. [1]
In December 2011, Farrell, then aged 18, made his Ulster debut against Leinster. [2]
At the beginning of the 2014–15 Top 14 season, Farrell joined French Top 14 side FC Grenoble, where Bernard Jackman, formerly of Connacht, Leinster and Ireland, was coach. [3] Farrell made his debut against La Rochelle off the bench and made his first start against Oyonnax. [4]
On 24 January 2017, it was announced that Farrell would be joining Irish province Munster on a two-year contract, beginning at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season. [5] Farrell made his competitive debut for Munster on 1 September 2017, starting the provinces opening 2017–18 Pro14 fixture against Benetton in Irish Independent Park, Cork. [6] Farrell scored his first try for Munster in their fixture against South African side Cheetahs on 9 September 2017, helping the province to a 51–18 win in Thomond Park. [7] He was ruled out for 6–8 weeks following a knee injury sustained whilst playing for Ireland. [8] He returned from the injury on 6 January 2018, starting in Munster's 39–13 win against Connacht. [9]
A knee injury Farrell suffered while with the Ireland squad during the 2018 Six Nations required surgery, and subsequently ruled him out of the remainder of the 2017–18 season. [10] He signed a three-year contract extension with Munster in October 2018. [11] Farrell returned from the aforementioned knee injury on 25 November 2018, featuring off the bench in Munster's 2018–19 Pro14 round 9 fixture against Italian side Zebre. [12] He scored two tries and earned the Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 44–14 win against Edinburgh on 30 November 2018. [13]
Farrell won his 50th cap for Munster in their 35–14 away win against English club Wasps in round 1 of the 2021–22 Champions Cup on 12 December 2021, [14] [15] and signed a two-year contract extension with the province in January 2022, [16] but was released from the contract early in March 2023. [17]
Farrell joined French Pro D2 club Oyonnax in March 2023. [18] Having joined as a medical joker, Farrell secured a two-year contract extension with the club, [19] and went on to help the club secure promotion to the Top 14 after they defeated Grenoble to win the 2022–23 Rugby Pro D2 season. [20]
Farrell earned his first senior international call-up in October 2017, being named in the Ireland squad for the 2017 Autumn Internationals. [21] He made his first appearance for Ireland on 18 November 2017, starting against Fiji. [22] Farrell also started in Ireland's win against Argentina, though he went off injured during the second-half. [8] Farrell made his Six Nations debut on 24 February 2018, starting against Wales and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Ireland's 37–27 win. [23] However, a knee injury sustained during training ruled Farrell out of the remainder of the tournament. [24] [10]
Farrell was selected in the 31-man Ireland squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, [25] having featured in the warm-up matches against Italy, [26] and Wales. [27] During the World Cup itself, Farrel was used as a replacement in Ireland's opening 27–3 win against Scotland, [28] and he started in their shock 19–12 defeat against hosts Japan. [29] When the 2020 Six Nations resumed in October 2020 following a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Farrell featured as a replacement in Ireland's 35–27 defeat against France in their final fixture of the tournament. [30]
With the usual format of end-of-year international tests not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ireland instead participated in the Autumn Nations Cup. Farrell started in the 32–9 opening win against Wales on 13 November, [31] the 18–7 defeat against England on 21 November, [32] and the 23–10 win against Georgia on 29 November, [33] then featured off the bench in the 31–16 win against Scotland on 5 December, which secured a third-place finish for Ireland in the tournament. [34] During the 2021 July rugby union tests, Farrell started in Ireland's 39–31 win against Japan, [35] however, a head injury sustained during the game ruled Farrell out of Ireland's final test against the United States. [36] A hip injury ruled Farrell out of the 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand. [37]
Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tries | Points | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fiji | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
France | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Italy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 50 |
Scotland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Wales | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Total | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 80 |
Correct as of 3 July 2021 [38]