Hugo Keenan

Hugo Keenan (born 18 June 1996) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

Hugo Keenan

Keenan in the Six Nations Championship
Date of birth	(1996-06-18) 18 June 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
School	Blackrock College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing Current team Leinster Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016– Leinster 73 (75) Correct as of 11 April 2025 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016 Ireland U20 10 (5) 2020– Ireland 46 (65) 2025 British & Irish Lions 3 (5) Correct as of 26 July 2025[1] National sevens team Years Team Comps 2017–2024 Ireland 17 Correct as of 19 December 2020

Early life

Keenan attended secondary school at Blackrock College. There he was a member of the team that won the 2014 Leinster Schools Senior Cup, with Keenan noted for his running and passing,^[2] including scoring a try in the final.^[3]

Professional career

Leinster

Keenan debuted for Leinster in 2016 against Zebre at the age of 20.^[4]

Ireland U20 and 7s

Keenan played wing for the Ireland under-20 national rugby union team. Keenan started all matches for the Ireland under-20 team during the 2016 under-20 Six Nations. He also started all matches in the 2016 World Rugby under-20 Championship, including Ireland's historic victory over New Zealand.^[5][6]

Keenan was called into the Ireland national rugby sevens team camp in early 2017.^[7][8] Keenan was part of the Ireland sevens team during the 2017 Grand Prix Series. He scored several tries during Ireland's win at the 2017 Moscow Sevens, including a crucial try in Ireland's 28–21 semifinal win over Russia.^[9]

Keenan was called up to the Sevens Team for the 2023/24 Madrid Grand Final. In June 2024 Keenan was called up to the 2024 Olympics Squad.^[10][11]

Ireland

Keenan makes a break during Ireland's 2023 Six Nations match with Italy

Keenan during Ireland's 2023 Six Nations match with Italy

Keenan standing for the anthem during the 2023 Six Nations

Keenan debuted for Ireland on 24 October 2020 in a Six Nations match against Italy, where he started on the wing and scored two tries in a 50–17 win.^[12] Keenan then started Ireland's next 17 internationals between 2020 and 2022, scoring tries against Georgia, Italy, USA, England and New Zealand. Keenan was recognized for his strong performance in Ireland’s win against England in the 2022 Six Nations.^[13] Keenan was described in March 2022 as the heir to Rob Kearney at fullback for Ireland.^[14]

Selected for the 2023 Rugby World Cup by Ireland Coach Andy Farrell, Keenan would go on to start in all five matches for the Ireland within the tournament.^[15]

British & Irish Lions

Keenan was named in the initial Lions squad for the 2025 tour to Australia as part of the event held at the O2 Arena in London. Despite suffering from illness and injury during the beginning of the tour to Australia, Keenan made his Lions debut as cap #881 against the Queensland Reds on 5 July 2025. ^[16] Keenan started both of the first two test matches against the Wallabies and scored the series clinching try in 79th minute of the second test.^[17]

Playing style

Known for his defence, aerial skills and cunning ability to pick up loose kicks and engineer attacking plays for his team, 'The Fox' is considered one of the best fullbacks in the world.^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

List of international tries

Number	Position	Points	Tries	Result	Opposition	Venue	Date	Ref.
1–2	Wing	10	2	Won	Italy	Aviva Stadium	24 October 2020	[18]
3	Wing	5	1	Won	Georgia	Aviva Stadium	29 November 2020	[19]
4	Fullback	5	1	Won	Italy	Stadio Olimpico	27 February 2021	[20]
5	Fullback	5	1	Won	United States	Aviva Stadium	10 July 2021	[21]
6	Fullback	5	1	Won	England	Twickenham Stadium	12 March 2022	[22]
7	Fullback	5	1	Won	New Zealand	Sky Stadium	16 July 2022	[23]
8	Fullback	5	1	Won	France	Aviva Stadium	11 February 2023	[24]
9	Fullback	5	1	Won	Italy	Stadio Olimpico	25 February 2023	[25]
10	Fullback	5	1	Won	Romania	Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux	9 September 2023	[26]
11-12	Fullback	10	2	Won	Scotland	Stade de France	7 October 2023	[27]
13	Fullback	5	1	Won	Italy	Stadio Olimpico	15 March 2025	[28]
14	Fullback	5	1	Won	Australia	Melbourne Cricket Ground	26 July 2025	[29]

as of 26 July 2025^[update]

Honours

Leinster

• 5× United Rugby Championship: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025

Ireland

• 2× Six Nations Championship: 2023, 2024
• 1× Grand Slam: 2023
• 3× Triple Crown: 2022, 2023, 2025

British & Irish Lions

• 1x Test Series: 2025

Individual

• 2x Six Nations Team of the Championship: 2022, 2023