Niall Scannell Set To Hit 100
10th January 2020 By The Editor
Hooker Niall Scannell will become the 15th member of the current Munster squad to hit the 100-cap landmark for the province if selected to face Racing 92 on Sunday.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.
The 27-year-old has also earned 20 Ireland caps and made four appearances at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
A product of PBC in Cork, Scannell captained his school to the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2010.
Joined the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy in 2011 and moved up to AIL rugby with Dolphin RFC.
Niall captained the Ireland U20s at the 2012 Junior World Championships in South Africa and made his British and Irish Cup debut for Munster A in January 2013.
A senior Munster debut arrived at Irish Independent Park in December 2013 against Scarlets and a first start for the province followed a week later against Connacht.
The 2015/16 campaign proved to be a breakthrough season for Scannell as he made 23 appearances, including a European debut against Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park.
Started alongside younger brother Rory in the December 2015 clash away to Dragons to become the first pair of brothers to start for Munster in the PRO14.
Continued to flourish the following season and made a further 26 Munster appearances.
Scannell made his international debut as a starter against Italy in the 6 Nations and went on to feature in the remaining four games of the 2017 6 Nations campaign.
His strong form over the season saw Scannell nominated for Munster Player of the Year at the 2017 Munster Rugby Awards.
Included in the Ireland side for the 2017 Summer Tour to the USA and Japan, playing all three Tests and scoring his first international try against the USA. In that same Test, he and his younger brother Rory became the first Munster brothers to wear Irish jerseys together on the international stage in the professional era.
Made another 24 Munster appearances in the 2017/18 season before impressing on Ireland’s victorious Summer Series victory over Australia.
A strong campaign again last season saw the hooker make 19 Munster appearances and make his Rugby World Cup debut.