Fineen Wycherley


Fineen Wycherley is an Irish rugby union player for Munster in the Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup. He plays primarily as a lock, though he can also play as a flanker, and represents Young Munster in the All-Ireland League.

Early life

Wycherley was born in Bantry, County Cork. At age 16, he moved to Cistercian College, Roscrea and was part of the team that won the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 2015, beating Belvedere College 18–11 in the final and winning the trophy for the first time in the school's history. However, the following year Wycherley also tasted defeat in the competition, losing to the previous years beaten finalists, Belvedere, 31–7 in the final.

Munster

Wycherley was an unused substitute in Munster's fixture against Welsh side Scarlets in Thomond Park on 24 February 2017. This was his first call-up to the senior Munster team in a Pro14 fixture. On 4 March 2017, Wycherley made his competitive debut for Munster when he came on as a replacement in the 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Cardiff Blues in Cardiff Arms Park. In Munster's 2017–18 Pro14 defeat against Glasgow Warriors on 22 September 2017, Wycherley was sent off. He was subsequently cited and banned for three weeks.
He signed a one-year development contract with Munster in January 2018, which saw him join the senior squad for the 2018–19 season. Wycherley won the 2018 John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year in April 2018. He scored his first try for Munster during their 32–7 away win against Italian side Zebre during round 9 of the 2018–19 Pro14 on 25 November 2018. He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in December 2018, a deal that will see him remain with the province until at least June 2021. Wycherley made his Champions Cup debut for Munster on 9 December 2018, featuring off the bench in their 30–5 win against French pool 2 opponents Castres.

Ireland

Having been named in the training squad for the 2017 Six Nations Under 20 Championship in December 2016, Wycherley made his debut for Ireland U20 on 3 February 2017 when he started against Scotland U20 in his sides 19–20 away victory in Broadwood Stadium. On 10 February 2017, Wycherley again started for Ireland U20, this time in the sides 26–27 away victory against Italy U20 in Stadio Enrico Chersoni. On 17 March 2017, Wycherley started for Ireland U20 in their 10–14 defeat against England U20 in Donnybrook Stadium. Wycherley was also selected in the Ireland Under-20s squad for the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.