Devin Toner (born 29 June 1986) is a former professional rugby player. He played in the second-row for Ireland and the Irish province Leinster. Measuring 6' 10" in height, he was the tallest player in the Heineken Cup and the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He wore a size 15 (Ireland) boot.[1]

Devin Toner
Date of birth (1986-06-29) 29 June 1986 (age 38)
Place of birthMoynalvey, Meath, Ireland
Height2.09 m (6 ft 10+12 in)
Weight127 kg (20.0 st; 280 lb)
SchoolCastleknock College
UniversityUniversity College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
North Kildare ()
Lansdowne ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2022 Leinster 280 (20)
Correct as of 20 June 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006 Ireland U21 9
2009–2013 Ireland Wolfhounds 9 (5)
2010–2020 Ireland 70 (10)
Correct as of 23 February 2020

Toner winning a lineout for Ireland against Romania during the 2015 Rugby World Cup

Leinster

edit

The former Castleknock College player established himself as a senior player with Leinster, chalking up more than a century of senior provincial caps. On 27 March 2021, he made his 262nd appearance for Leinster in a victory over Munster in the grand final of the 2020–21 Pro14, exceeding Gordon D'Arcy's provincial appearance record.[2][3]

In March 2022, Toner announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 season.[4]

Ireland

edit

Toner made his Ireland Wolfhounds debut in the 2009 Churchill Cup against Canada in June 2009, and helped his side win the tournament in Denver with a win against the England Saxons.[5][6]

Toner was selected by Ireland's head coach Declan Kidney to make his International debut for Ireland against Samoa on 13 November 2010 during the 2010 end of year rugby tests.[7] He then came off the bench against New Zealand and Argentina during the following week.[8] Toner was a regular starter for Ireland at lock from 2013 to 2018.[9]

Toner was left out of Joe Schmidt's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with Schmidt instead selecting Iain Henderson, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan as locks.[10][11][12] Toner last appeared for Ireland in February 2020 in the Six Nations.[13]

Honours

edit
Leinster
Ireland A

Churchill Cup (1): 2009

Ireland

References

edit
  1. ^ Devin Toner [@DevinToner4] (1 October 2015). "I had given up hope but the squad gift from @jackmc100 proved it could be done! Unreal effort @UGGUK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Dev strikes the right Tone as he equals D'Arcy's appearance record". The42.ie. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. ^ "'It's pretty special' - Devin Toner celebrates Leinster caps record amid glory of PRO14 title win". Independent.ie. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Leinster's most-capped player Devin Toner to retire at the end of the season". The 42. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Ireland 'A' leave it late to down Canada". ESPN. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Irish power past Saxons in Churchill Cup finale". ESPN. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Ireland stutter past Samoa". ESPN. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Ireland make 11 changes for clash with Samoa". RTÉ Sport. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Career Figures". espnscrum. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  10. ^ "'He's an absolutely quality person. That was an incredibly tough conversation yesterday' - Joe Schmidt on Toner decision". Irish Independent. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Devin Toner left out of Ireland's 31-man Rugby World Cup squad". Irish Times. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Don't assume you're on the plane' – Devin Toner's advice for Ireland's World Cup hopefuls". Irish Independent. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  13. ^ "DEVIN TONER Ireland". espnscrum. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
edit