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InternationalIreland

Ex-Ireland, Leicester and Munster scrumhalf Tom Tierney dead at 46

By Ian Cameron
Tom Tierney of Leicester Tigers in action during the Zurich Premiership match between Leicester Tigers and Bath at Aylestone Road on November 29, 2003 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Former Ireland, Leicester Tigers and Munster scrumhalf Tom Tierney has passed away suddenly at the age of 46.

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The IRFU and Munster Rugby expressed their sadness upon hearing the news of his sudden passing.

Tierney was a talented player who represented several teams throughout his career including Richmond, Garryowen, Munster, Leicester Tigers, Galwegians, and Connacht. He made his debut for Ireland in June 1999 and played in eight matches, including four games during the 1999 Rugby World Cup, where he scored a try in the Pool E win against Romania.

After retiring from playing, Tom moved into coaching, starting with Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Garryowen, Cork Constitution, and the Ireland Club XV side. He joined the IRFU in 2014 and held several coaching roles, including coaching Ireland’s U19 and U20 Men’s teams, Ireland Women’s 7s, and Ireland Women’s 15s. His contributions led to a Women’s Six Nations Championship victory in 2015.

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Most recently, Tom served as the IRFU National Talent Coach and worked out of Munster Rugby’s High Performance Centre since 2021. He focused on coaching Munster’s Academy players.

Close friend Frankie Sheehan wrote: “I am truly devastated to hear the news today of my great friend and teammate Tom Tierney. Fantastic player, superb character and outstanding coach… Thoughts and prayers with Mary and all the family.”

“Everyone in Irish Rugby is deeply shocked to hear of the sudden loss of Tom Tierney,” said IRFU Chief Executive Kevin Potts. “Our immediate thoughts are with his wife Mary and daughters Isabel and Julia, as well as his many friends, colleagues and former team-mates.

“Tom was an outstanding scrum-half and his time in the Ireland jersey will always be an immense source of pride for his family and the clubs that supported him on his journey. He also amassed an impressive CV as a coach and we were honoured to have him as a colleague in the IRFU from 2014 to present.

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“He will be sorely missed.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

M
Mike 32 minutes ago
Clearly the unluckiest player to miss out on England – Andy Goode

Nothing against the guy and clearly a very good player for Quins, but what “credit in the bank” does Alex Dombrandt have for England? Tom Willis fills a “ball carrier in the tight exchanges” shaped hole in the England pack, and Alex D has never quite got it done in an England shirt. I get that some continuity in selection is needed, but given that Alex D would probably be unlikely in the match day squad, I don’t see the downside to give a younger player who has been in (arguably) better form some exposure.

2 Go to comments
G
GP 2 hours ago
The teams are in: Lineups confirmed for unpredictable NPC semi-finals

Looking forward to Canterbury's game. Great line up. Isaac Hutchinson at 15 has had a stunning first season for Canterbury. Another of other promising players introduced this year. 100 game Mitchell Drummond at halfback in great form last week.

1 Go to comments
M
ME 2 hours ago
The stats show the club v country wounds may never heal

In order to have a fairer comparison you need to include the European Champions Cup game minutes played. Without them the SRP numbers are relatively overstated. I probably would also include Challenge Cup knock out stages minutes as well. For a number of clubs in the North these are the key games, not just the league, and the high profile players play in most of them if fit.

My other caveat on the piece, which was very interesting, is a feeling that the underlying assumption is that the international game has to be presented with "fresh" players and thus the next tier down has to accommodate to this. I would challenge this. The growth markets are club/provincial competitions and Test rugby needs to capped at a maximum of 10 or 11 games per team per season/year. Otherwise you don't have enough time to deliver a strong enough narrative in markets where rugby has many competitors and there is nowhere for franchise teams from emerging markets ( Spain , Georgia, Fiji, Chile etc.) to develop experience and depth - eventually being able to compete properly at RWC etc.

69 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Rugby fans are a study for short term memory biases.


I simply love how the number 5 team in the world’s fans are talking up their chances. Home ground advantage. That’s it.


If I’m wrong, upset defeats. So I’ll remain very conservative about England’s chances.

11 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Lol

11 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Yeah. Argentina showed New Zealand aren’t invincible either…


But I hope the ABs are going to pump England. Soften them up for SA as we finish them off.

11 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Certainly the disruptions in management and loss of a few players to injury don’t give me much confidence in England’s chances.


The return of Cam Roigard and the settling in of the team since the beginning of the season, I think NZ are different animal to the one England faced in New Zealand.

11 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
The stats show the club v country wounds may never heal

Oh the team is fully made up of those types of players I mentioned, that's for sure, but it's still the same thing (even more relevant when you look at some modern Rugby nations). You also defeated you're own point by showing that league didn't have to add those teams to have the international ticking over.


Don't forget England. Though I can accept if you try to argue Gallagher started the trend first the other way!


Union doesn't have to do that but the question of which area leads the game forward remains. It may well end up being the club/provincial game simply because of the volume of fixtures - and primacy of contract.

What are your idea's that "leading" the game entails? A club body that takes over from World Rugby if say whatever you're talking about was to sway the 'club' way? I don't really know why you're trying to demean League, are you worried that's all Union would turn into? Just looking at them now I see it kicked started their own league and they now have a rep team of locals, much the same sort of impetus behind Moana Pasifika and Drua. It was always only a good thing to me and wonder if this means you're leading down the capitalist path not appreciating that?


If you're just talking about the current situation, why would anything change? Perhaps in a non Test Championship year it's the Lions and maybe others should focus on a single tour rather than globe trotting. I certainly think the International game is maxxed out now with 5 or 6 game regional games and the same intercontinentally.


Perhaps a very unique country like NZ may take their brand around the world but even they are surely going to see the most growth in the other half of the season. The domestic season?

69 Go to comments
M
Mike 3 hours ago
Jack Willis is about to all but end his England career

He also suffered two catastrophic knee injuries, one on England duty, and then saw Wasps go bust, possibly leaving him out of pocket. Whilst I would love to see Jack Willis in an England shirt again, like you, I cannot blame him for making the decision that it seems he has. Short professional career = maximise what you can from it, when you can.

16 Go to comments
C
CR 3 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Agree. Two butt wippings incoming

11 Go to comments
C
CR 3 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

I think the Springboks are going to go berzerker level against England, we did not enjoy the whole wit Kant nonsense leading up to the final and I’m pretty sure there is a lot of pent up emotion over it. Some noses will get broken, some ribs will get cracked, I’m pretty sure Tom curry will not be walking off without blood pouring from some cavity. All legal hits ofcourse, but with extra venom. RIP England

11 Go to comments
C
Cheers 4 hours ago
The 2 Premiership clubs targeting ex-All Black Hoskins Sotutu

Imagine being an English player grinding it out in the system all these years and Hoskin's just jogs on over into the squad because he threw a toddlers tantrum and didn't take the coaches feed back on how to improve.

16 Go to comments
C
Cheers 4 hours ago
The 2 Premiership clubs targeting ex-All Black Hoskins Sotutu

Yip have always thought his attitude could be adjusted. Im almost certain something happened a couple of years ago

16 Go to comments
U
Utiku Old Boy 4 hours ago
Injuries, not innovation, are driving change in Scott Robertson’s All Blacks

Your logic might make sense if Robertson was delivering results against top teams. These are only mediocre. Risk vs rewards has been absent as defined by those results so Bidwell makes valid points. Why persist with caution and known limited players when the opportunity exists to re-launch with new players and strategies?

44 Go to comments
U
Utiku Old Boy 4 hours ago
Injuries, not innovation, are driving change in Scott Robertson’s All Blacks

Agree with you Bidwell. The revolution has been delayed and fear continues to drive selections. Known quantities are persisted with and no innovation has materialized. As with Foster, change only comes when forced. A pity for NZ - and global - rugby.

44 Go to comments
f
fl 4 hours ago
Jack Willis is about to all but end his England career

I'm not wrong, europe is defined in terms of tectonic plates. If it was then parts of Morocco are in europe, and parts of Iceland and Greece are outside of it.


Unlike you I've never killed an Arab (or a Serb, or an Argentine) so at the very least I'm less xenophobic than you are.

16 Go to comments
M
MakeOllieMathisAnAB 4 hours ago
The 2 Premiership clubs targeting ex-All Black Hoskins Sotutu

pretty stacked for talent in that area at the moment. Hoskins will have to level up.

16 Go to comments
C
CO 5 hours ago
The 2 Premiership clubs targeting ex-All Black Hoskins Sotutu

Exactly, a run of historically poor results and struggling to be at fifty percent against the major nations whilst persevering with a former captain who lost the world cup final but getting himself red carded.


It really is keystone cops at NZ rugby HQ as they lose top playing talent and the best coach in NZ to Australia in Joe Schmidt.

16 Go to comments
F
Forward pass 5 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

So why doesnt England just get some immensely smart and intelligent coaches? Cant see NZ losing to England. If they couldnt do it in NZ this year then NZ is much better off now.

11 Go to comments
K
Kia koe 5 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

I agree... ABs really improved... Yes they lost 3, but close... I think ABs will come ready to England.


I don't see England beating S.Africa. but Argentina really showed that S.africa are not invincible yet. So let's see....

11 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum' Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'
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