Mike McCarthy

Michael McCarthy (born 27 November 1981) is an English-born retired Irish professional rugby union. He played his club rugby for the Irish provincial team Leinster Rugby in the Pro14, having joined from rival Irish team Connacht in 2013. He played in the second row and as a flanker.

Early life McCarthy was born and raised in England. He was educated at Sedbergh School.

Club career Early career McCarthy started his professional career playing for Premiership club London Wasps in the 2001–02 season. He made a single substitute appearance for the team in that year's Premiership against Sale Sharks, and did not play in any European games. The following season he made an increased number of appearances, playing three times in the 2002–03 Premiership as Wasps won the title. He also made two appearances in the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup, playing both first round ties against Overmarch Parma, including making his first start away to the Italians on 12 October 2002, in a tournament Wasps also went on to win, for a domestic and European double.

Connacht McCarthy joined the Irish side Connacht in 2003. He made his debut from the bench in a Celtic League match away against Welsh side Cardiff Blues on 13 September. McCarthy played 16 times in total in the 2003–04 Celtic League, scoring two tries. He also made eight appearances in the European Challenge Cup as Connacht made it to the semi-finals, where they were narrowly beaten by eventual winners Harlequins over two legs.

Newcastle Falcons McCarthy made his debut for the Newcastle Falcons on 5 September 2004 against Worcester Warriors, scoring a try as the Falcons won 30–9. He made a total of 21 appearances in the 2004–05 Premiership and scored two tries.

In the following season's Premiership, McCarthy played 19 games, and scored three tries as Newcastle finished 7th in the league.

McCarthy played only nine games for Newcastle in the 2006–07 Premiership, but scored a try against the Sale Sharks.

The 2011–12 season saw Connacht qualify for the Heineken Cup for the first time. McCarthy started every one of Connacht's games, including the team's first ever win in the competition, in the home game against Harlequins. He also started 19 of Connacht's games in the Pro 12, the new name for the Celtic League. The following season saw McCarthy play 13 games in the 2012–13 Pro 12, scoring a single try. Connacht also played in the Heineken Cup, this time winning three of their six games, with McCarthy again an ever present. This was McCarthy's last season with the province however, as it had been announced in December 2012 that McCarthy would join rival Irish province Leinster at the end of the season. He left Connacht having made 134 appearances in his second spell with the team, and 160 appearances overall.

Leinster McCarthy joined Leinster ahead of the 2013–14 season. He made his debut against Scarlets on 6 September 2013 in the Pro 12. He made his European debut for the side in October that year against the Ospreys, and went on to start all six of Leinster's pool games in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup. On 17 May 2017, McCarthy confirmed that he would not be joining Narbonne and has been forced to retire due to an elbow injury.

International career In his early career McCarthy was part of the English under-age set-up, but later switched his allegiance to Ireland. In August that year, however, McCarthy made his Ireland debut in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Scotland at Murrayfield.

McCarthy was again part of the Ireland squad for the 2012 Six Nations. He was a late replacement for Donncha O'Callaghan in the 32–14 win over Scotland on 10 March. McCarthy again replaced O'Callaghan from the bench in the 30–9 defeat to England, seven days later.

McCarthy was called up for the 2012 November internationals. McCarthy played in each game, starting both full tests that Ireland played. He partnered Donnacha Ryan in the second row in the match against South Africa on 10 November, as well as the game with Argentina on 24 November. Two months later he was called up to the 2013 Six Nations squad. This championship saw McCarthy start four of Ireland's five games, missing the Scotland game through injury.