Kieran Campbell
Encyclopedia
Kieran Campbell is a former Irish scrumhalf who currently plays for Connacht
in the Magners League. Born in Hillingdon
to an Irish father and Sri Lankan mother he was a key player for Gunnersbury Catholic School and helped them reach the last eight of the Daily Mail school's cup and to win the Middlesex School's County cup three years in a row. He started his professional playing career in 1997 at London Irish
and was part of the Under 19 World Cup winning side of 1998. After four seasons with the exiles he joined Ulster Rugby
at the start of the 2001-02 season. However, he would have to wait until the start of the 2003 season before he would emerge as a first team regular overhauling the scrumhalf Neil Doak
.
The 2003-04 season was to be the most important in his career. After succeeding Neil Doak
for the scrumhalf position at Ulster Kieran was to enshrine himself in the Ravenhill faithful for a stunning individual try scored against Stade Français during the December 2004 Heineken Cup
match. His performances through this season were instrumental in gaining a place on the Ireland's summer tour of Japan in 2005.
Following in his breakthrough to the Irish national squad Campbell continued with a successful 2006-07 season where he would win a further 21 caps with Ulster. His performances were good enough to grant him a place in the Ireland A squad for the Churchill Cup
during May 2007.
It was however the emergence of Isaac Boss
at Ulster and his subsequent breakthrough into the Irish National side that was to allow Campbell to leave the Ravenhill setup in 2008 after seven seasons to join fellow Magners League team Connacht
.
Kieran is married to Orla.
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
in the Magners League. Born in Hillingdon
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
to an Irish father and Sri Lankan mother he was a key player for Gunnersbury Catholic School and helped them reach the last eight of the Daily Mail school's cup and to win the Middlesex School's County cup three years in a row. He started his professional playing career in 1997 at London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
and was part of the Under 19 World Cup winning side of 1998. After four seasons with the exiles he joined Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
at the start of the 2001-02 season. However, he would have to wait until the start of the 2003 season before he would emerge as a first team regular overhauling the scrumhalf Neil Doak
Neil Doak
Neil George Doak is an Irish former cricketer and rugby union player.-Cricket:...
.
The 2003-04 season was to be the most important in his career. After succeeding Neil Doak
Neil Doak
Neil George Doak is an Irish former cricketer and rugby union player.-Cricket:...
for the scrumhalf position at Ulster Kieran was to enshrine himself in the Ravenhill faithful for a stunning individual try scored against Stade Français during the December 2004 Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
match. His performances through this season were instrumental in gaining a place on the Ireland's summer tour of Japan in 2005.
Following in his breakthrough to the Irish national squad Campbell continued with a successful 2006-07 season where he would win a further 21 caps with Ulster. His performances were good enough to grant him a place in the Ireland A squad for the Churchill Cup
Churchill Cup
The Churchill Cup was an annual rugby union tournament, held in June, contested by representative men's teams from Canada, England, the United States, and other invited teams from a wide array of countries....
during May 2007.
It was however the emergence of Isaac Boss
Isaac Boss
Isaac Boss is a New Zealand–born Irish rugby union footballer. His grandmother was born in Glenarm, County Antrim, thereby qualifying him to play for Ireland. He plays scrum-half or fullback for Leinster and the Ireland national team...
at Ulster and his subsequent breakthrough into the Irish National side that was to allow Campbell to leave the Ravenhill setup in 2008 after seven seasons to join fellow Magners League team Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
.
Kieran is married to Orla.