Keith Gleeson
Encyclopedia
Keith Gleeson is a retired Irish
rugby union
football player.
, before moving to Australia
with his family as a child after attending St. Michaels College, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 for several years. Raised in Sydney
, Australia
, Gleeson attended Catholic Jesuit school St Aloysius' College representing the schools 1st XV rugby union team over 2 years and as captain in the latter and playing for the CAS
1st XV and the New South Wales 2nd XV. He went on to represent Australia at u/19 and u/21 (Captain).
in the Sydney
competition, the NSW Waratahs in the Super 12, Leinster
in Ireland
and finally most notably Ireland
. His preferred position is as an openside flanker
. Perhaps the highlight of his career was representing Ireland
in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
. He stands 1.86 m and his playing weight is 98 kg.
On numerous occasions George Hook
has stated that Gleeson should start for Ireland as he feels he is their best openside flanker.
Gleeson retired from professional rugby at the end of the 07/08 season with a Magners League winners medal
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
football player.
Early life
Gleeson was born in Dublin, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, before moving to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with his family as a child after attending St. Michaels College, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 for several years. Raised in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Gleeson attended Catholic Jesuit school St Aloysius' College representing the schools 1st XV rugby union team over 2 years and as captain in the latter and playing for the CAS
Combined Associated Schools
The Associated Schools of NSW Inc, most commonly referred to as the Combined Associated Schools , is a group of six independent schools located in Sydney, Australia which share common interests, ethics, educational philosophy and contest sporting events between themselves...
1st XV and the New South Wales 2nd XV. He went on to represent Australia at u/19 and u/21 (Captain).
Professional rugby career
Gleeson has enjoyed a distinct career, representing Northern SuburbsNorthern Suburbs RFC
Northern Suburbs Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in Sydney, Australia, that was formed in 1900 from the merger of the Pirates and Wallaroos clubs. The club competes in the Shute Shield and Tooheys New Cup competitions run by the New South Wales Rugby Union.The club has produced 42 Wallaby...
in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
competition, the NSW Waratahs in the Super 12, Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and finally most notably Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
. His preferred position is as an openside flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
. Perhaps the highlight of his career was representing Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. He stands 1.86 m and his playing weight is 98 kg.
On numerous occasions George Hook
George Hook
George Hook is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, before becoming a rugby pundit with Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
has stated that Gleeson should start for Ireland as he feels he is their best openside flanker.
Gleeson retired from professional rugby at the end of the 07/08 season with a Magners League winners medal