Dan Sheehan

Dan Patrick Sheehan (born 17 September 1998) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

Early life Before playing professionally, Sheehan was a Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-finalist with Clongowes Wood College in 2016. He then went to Trinity College and played on their rugby team in the All-Ireland League. He has also played in the All-Ireland League for Lansdowne.

Club career Sheehan signed his first professional contract for Leinster in June 2020. He made his Leinster debut in October 2020 in Round 3 of the 2020–21 Pro14 against Zebre, scoring two tries. In June 2022, he was named Leinster's 2021–22 Men's Young Player of the Year. Sheehan was named to the 2022–23 URC Elite XV of the year.

In January 2025, he returned from a six month injury to score two tries on first appearance back for Leinster in a 36–12 win over the Stormers in the URC. In April 2025, he scored a hat-trick of tries during a 41–17 victory over Ulster. In June 2025, he scored two tries in the URC semi finals during a 37–19 victory over Glasgow Warriors. The following week he started the final as Leinster beat the Bulls 32–7 to win the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship.

International career Ireland Sheehan made his senior international test debut on 6 November 2021 against Japan at the Aviva Stadium.

In the 2022 Six Nations, Sheehan came off the bench in a win against Wales and played the majority of the defeat to France after Rónan Kelleher came off injured in the 26th minute. Sheehan earned his first start for Ireland in the February 2022 Six Nations match against Italy. In the final match of the 2022 Six Nations, he scored a try and won the player-of-the-match award in a 26–5 victory over Scotland. Sheehan was nominated for the 2022 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.

On 18 March 2023, Sheehan scored two tries in a player-of-the-match performance against England which clinched the 2023 Six Nations and the Grand Slam.

In 2024, Sheehan won the 2024 Six Nations Championship finishing the tournament as joint top try scorer with five alongside Duhan van der Merwe.

In January 2025, despite just returning from a six month long injury and only one appearance in the URC that season, he was named on the bench for the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations against England. He went on to score a try as they won 27–22. In February 2025, he was named in the starting lineup for the first time during the tournament against Wales and in the absence of Caelan Doris through injury, he also captained the team for the first time. Ireland won the Triple Crown after a 27–18 victory with Sheehan lifting the trophy alongside Doris. On March 15th, Sheehan scored a hat-trick at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, during a 22–17 victory over Italy.

British & Irish Lions In May 2025, he was selected for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. In July 2025, he scored a try in the first test as the Lions won 29–17. He also scored the first try in the second test as the Lions won 29–26 to secure the series victory. During the third test he was caught engaging in foul play with an illegal challenge to head of Australian player Tom Lynagh. After receiving a four match suspension, he denied the action was illegal and rejected the findings of the citing. Though one of World Rugby's most respected voices, and retired international referee, Nigel Owens outlined the play was dangerous, illegal and deserved to be red carded.

Career statistics List of international tries Number Position Points Tries Result Opposition Venue Competition Date 1 Hooker 5 1 Won Aviva Stadium 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals 21 November 2021 2 Hooker 5 1 Won Aviva Stadium 2022 Six Nations Championship 19 March 2022 3–4 Hooker 10 2 Won Aviva Stadium 2023 Six Nations Championship 18 March 2023 5 Hooker 5 1 Won Stade de France 2023 Rugby World Cup 7 October 2023 6 Hooker 5 1 Won Stade Vélodrome 2024 Six Nations Championship 2 February 2024 7–8 Hooker 10 2 Won Aviva Stadium 2024 Six Nations Championship 11 February 2024 9 Hooker 5 1 Won Aviva Stadium 2024 Six Nations Championship 24 February 2024 10 Hooker 5 1 Won Aviva Stadium 2024 Six Nations Championship 16 March 2024 11 Hooker 5 1 Won Aviva Stadium 2025 Six Nations Championship 1 February 2025 12 Hooker 5 1 Lost Aviva Stadium 2025 Six Nations Championship 8 March 2025 13–15 Hooker 15 3 Won Stadio Olimpico 2025 Six Nations Championship 15 March 2025 16* Hooker 5 1 Won Lang Park 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia 19 July 2025 17* Hooker 5 1 Won Melbourne Cricket Ground 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia 26 July 2025 18 Hooker 5 1 lost Aviva Stadium 2025 end-of-year rugby union internationals 22 November 2025 19 Hooker 5 1 won Twickenham Stadium 2026 Six Nations Championship 21 February 2026 20 Hooker 5 1 won Aviva Stadium 2026 Six Nations Championship 14 March 2026

denotes* tries scored while playing with the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Personal life Sheehan, has a younger brother, Bobby who played hooker for University College Dublin R.F.C. while their grandfather also played rugby for Leinster in the 1950s.