Denis Leamy

Denis Leamy

Leamy playing for Munster.
Full name	Denis Patrick Leamy
Nickname	Leams, Shovels
Date of birth	(1981-11-27) 27 November 1981 (age 35)
Place of birth	Cashel, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	108 kg (238 lb)
School	Rockwell College
University	Setanta College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back-Row Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1994–95 1996–2002 2002–12 Cashel Rockwell UCC () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2002–12 Munster 145 ((150)) Correct as of 19 Dec 2011 Current local club Retired National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–11 Ireland 57 ((10)) Correct as of 9 Oct 2011

Denis Patrick Leamy (born 27 November 1981 in Cashel, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland) is a former Irish professional rugby union player. He was a back row forward who could play either Flanker or at Number 8, and occasionally played at inside centre. He ended his club rugby career for Munster in the Pro 12 and Heineken Cup, and internationally for Ireland. He officially announced his retirement in May 2012 due to a long-standing hip injury.

Leamy's first sport was hurling and he initially dreamed of following in the footsteps of his heroes Nicky English or Pat Fox. He played for his local GAA side, Boherlahan-Dualla, where his early physical strength was noted. His initial introduction to rugby was somewhat accidental, and occurred when he accompanied his two brothers, Ed and Kev, along to a trial game with his local rugby club, Cashel RFC. He harboured some initial reservations, but despite that he joined in the game and kept going back to play at the club.

A neighbour and family friend recommended that he change schools to join Rockwell College, a school heavily focused on rugby. Leamy gave up on hurling when he was 18, concentrating instead on rugby and a possible professional career.

Leamy enrolled in Rockwell College when he was 15. In his first year there, he was heavily involved in their successful march on the Munster Schools Junior Cup in 1997. He played for Rockwell Senior Cup Team for three years, the first of which he played at inside centre, before switching back to his more favoured backrow position of number 8. During this time, he was called to Clongowes for trials for the Ireland Schools team and ended up playing a key role in the Irish Schools' tour of Australia in 2000 when they won all eight games.