Aly Muldowney

Alastair William "Aly" Muldowney (born 3 August 1983) is an English-born professional rugby union player. He is a versatile forward, being able to play in both the second row and as a flanker. Muldowney currently plays for Gallagher Premiership club Bristol Bears.

Club career

Early career Muldowney was a late starter in rugby, opting to play basketball and football at a young age instead. His first rugby club was Stafford RFC and his second club was Stourbridge, playing in the National League 1. From there Muldowney was signed by RFU Championship side Moseley. Following his spell at Moseley he was scouted by Scottish club Glasgow Warriors.

Glasgow Warriors Muldowney played his first game for Glasgow on 3 September 2010 in a 2010–11 Celtic League match with Leinster. He made his European debut for the team in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup game with Toulouse on 10 December that year, and played in another three of the team's pool games. Muldowney played a total of 20 Celtic League games for the side, scoring tries against Newport Gwent Dragons and Benetton Treviso. He played his final game for Warriors on 6 May 2011 against Leinster.

Muldowney left Glasgow at the end of the 2010–11 season. He joined Premiership club Exeter Chiefs.

Exeter Chiefs Muldowney made his debut for the Chiefs on 10 September 2011, coming off the bench against Newcastle Falcons. Muldowney played in 17 Premiership games that season, 11 of these appearances coming from the bench, and scored one try as Exeter finished 5th. Muldowney also played in the 2011–12 European Challenge Cup for the Chiefs, starting three games and coming on as a replacement in a further three, including the quarter-final against Stade Français, and scored a try against I Cavalieri Prato in the pool stages. Muldowney played his first game for Connacht on 7 September 2013 against Zebre in the 2013–14 Pro12. He made his first European appearance for Connacht on 11 October that year, coming off the bench against Saracens in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup. and was a replacement in both of his Heineken Cup games for the province.

Ahead of the 2014–15 campaign Connacht's captain, second row Craig Clarke, retired which meant Muldowney featured more prominently throughout the season. He played in four of Connacht's five Challenge Cup, including two games against his former team Exeter Chiefs, and played in the quarter-final against Gloucester.

On 31 October 2015 Muldowney made his 50th appearance for Connacht in a 2014–15 Pro12 game against Edinburgh. On 28 May 2016, Muldowney made his final appearance for Connacht winning the Pro12 for the club's first time.

Grenoble Muldowney moved to French club Grenoble from the 2016-17 season in the Top 14.

Bristol Rugby In January 2018, Muldowney was announced as having signed for then-Greene King IPA Championship outfit Bristol for the 2018-19 season.

International Muldowney is qualified to play for England, Scotland or Ireland internationally. Born in England, he qualifies for Ireland through his father who was born in Newbridge. Muldowney came close to playing for Scotland A national rugby union team in 2011, which would have exempted him from playing for Ireland or England, but was ruled out of the squad with a shoulder injury.