Andy Kyriacou
Encyclopedia
Andy Kyriacou is an English
-born Irish
rugby union
footballer who plays at hooker for Ulster Rugby
. He has also represented Saracens
, Leeds Carnegie (then Leeds Tykes), Sale Sharks
as well as appearing for Munster Rugby
on loan. On the international stage he has represented England at Under 21 level. On April 22, 2009 he announced he had signed for Ulster Rugby.
and Leeds Tykes (now Leeds Carnegie), including a debut in the Zurich Premiership
.
More recognition came at the international level in 2004, when Kyriacou was part of the England U21 Grand Slam winning side in the U21 Six Nations championship.
on 1 July 2004, one of a number of players to make the move from Sale to Saracens in that season including Alex Sanderson
, Iain Fullarton
and Kevin Yates
, as well as Matt Cairns
who was returning to the club after a single season with the Sharks. He made his debut in European competition against Rugby Parma on 4 December of that year, though his Guinness Premiership
debut was not to come until the 2005–06
season, being instead a regular member of the clubs 'A' side.
Facing competition from Cairns and Italian international Fabio Ongaro
as well as Irish international Shane Byrne in earlier seasons, first team starts were still hard to come by, and the 2006–07 saw Kyriacou spend a successful loan spell with Munster Rugby
, appearing for the club in both their Magners League and Heineken Cup
squads. With the return of Byrne to Ireland and international commitments for Ongaro the 2007–08 season should present greater opportunities for Kyriacou back with Saracens.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Irish
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...
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...
footballer who plays at hooker for 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...
. He has also represented Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
, Leeds Carnegie (then Leeds Tykes), Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
as well as appearing for Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
on loan. On the international stage he has represented England at Under 21 level. On April 22, 2009 he announced he had signed for Ulster Rugby.
Ormskirk RUFC
Andy started his rugby playing at Ormskirk RUFC, and was among a string of Lancashire representatives from the club.Sale Sharks/Leeds Tykes 2003–04
Kyriacou's first senior season in top flight English rugby saw him appear for both Sale SharksSale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
and Leeds Tykes (now Leeds Carnegie), including a debut in the Zurich Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
.
More recognition came at the international level in 2004, when Kyriacou was part of the England U21 Grand Slam winning side in the U21 Six Nations championship.
Saracens 2004–2009
Kyriacou joined SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
on 1 July 2004, one of a number of players to make the move from Sale to Saracens in that season including Alex Sanderson
Alex Sanderson
Alexander Sanderson is a former English rugby union footballer who played in the back row for Saracens and Sale Sharks. He is the brother of Pat Sanderson who also played rugby for Littleborough RUFC....
, Iain Fullarton
Iain Fullarton
Iain Fullarton is a Scottish rugby union player. While at Merchiston Castle School he appeared for the Scottish schools side. After leaving Merchiston, Fullarton turned professional with Edinburgh Reivers and has since played for Sale Sharks. He signed for Saracens in 2004. In 2008 he left Saracens...
and Kevin Yates
Kevin Yates
You may have been looking for Kevin Yates , a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.Kevin Yates is an English Rugby Union player who plays at Prop for Nice in the French Fédérale 1.Yates professional career began at Bath. He was a member of the side that won the 1995/96 Zurich...
, as well as Matt Cairns
Matt Cairns
Matt Cairns is a rugby union footballer who plays at hooker for Harlequins and has been capped for the England national side as well as representing England in the Saxons and Sevens teams as well as at several age group levels...
who was returning to the club after a single season with the Sharks. He made his debut in European competition against Rugby Parma on 4 December of that year, though his Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
debut was not to come until the 2005–06
2005-06 Guinness Premiership
The 2005–06 Guinness Premiership was the 19th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2005 and May 2006. The final was contested by the Sale Sharks and the Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. Sale Sharks won 45 – 20 to win the Premiership...
season, being instead a regular member of the clubs 'A' side.
Facing competition from Cairns and Italian international Fabio Ongaro
Fabio Ongaro
Fabio Ongaro is an Italian rugby union footballer. Although he now plays as a hooker, he played in the Italian youth teams as a flanker.-Career:...
as well as Irish international Shane Byrne in earlier seasons, first team starts were still hard to come by, and the 2006–07 saw Kyriacou spend a successful loan spell with Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
, appearing for the club in both their Magners League and 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,...
squads. With the return of Byrne to Ireland and international commitments for Ongaro the 2007–08 season should present greater opportunities for Kyriacou back with Saracens.