Simon Zebo

Simon Zebo
Zebo at the 2015 World Cup
Date of birth (1990-03-16) 16 March 1990
Place of birth Cork, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
School Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing, Fullback
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Cork Constitution
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2010–present Munster 96 (205)
correct as of 25 Jan 2016.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2010
2012–14
2012–present
2013		 Ireland U20
Ireland Wolfhounds
Ireland
British and Irish Lions		 9
2
22
0		 (18)
(5)
(35)
(0)
correct as of 8 Feb 2016.

Simon Zebo (born 16 March 1990 in Cork, Ireland) is an Irish rugby union player for Munster in the Pro 12 and European Rugby Champions Cup. He usually plays Wing, but has also played Fullback for Ireland and Munster. Zebo plays club rugby for Cork Constitution.

Early life

Zebo attended Beaumont Boys School and Presentation Brothers College, Cork.[1] In his youth he also played hurling for Blackrock GAA and association football for Avondale United.[2][3]

Munster

2009–13

Zebo made his Munster debut against Connacht on 18 April 2010.[4]

He scored his first try for Munster against Scarlets in April 2011.[5]

He made his Heineken Cup debut for Munster against Scarlets on 10 December 2011.[6] Zebo opened his Heineken Cup scoring account with a hat-trick against Northampton Saints on 21 January 2012, during a man of the Match performance in the Round 6 fixture.[7]

In January 2013, Zebo agreed a three-year contract with Munster, which will keep him at the province until the end of the 2015–16 season.[8] He became the first ever player to score two Heineken Cup hat-tricks within a year, scoring three of Munster's five tries in the home match against Racing Métro 92 on 20 January 2013, again being awarded the Man of the Match.[9] He made his return from the foot injury sustained in Ireland's 2013 Six Nations in Munster's 12–18 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory against Harlequins on 7 April 2013.[10] He also started the 16–10 semi-final defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne on 27 April 2013.[11] Zebo was named Munster Young Player of the Year for the 2012–13 season on 12 May 2013.[12] He was also nominated for Munster Player of the Year.[13]

Zebo playing against Harlequins in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup.

Zebo suffered a foot injury during Munster's opening 2013–14 Heineken Cup fixture against Edinburgh on 12 October 2013, ruling him out for 10 weeks.[14]

2014–16

Zebo returned to full training on 6 January 2014.[15] Zebo came off the bench in the 7–20 away win against Gloucester on 11 January 2014, a win that secured quarter-final qualification in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup.[16] He also came off the bench against Edinburgh in the Round 6 fixture on 19 January 2014, scoring a try in the 38–6 win that secured a home quarter-final.[17] Zebo scored a brace of tries against Zebre on 15 February 2014.[18] He started in Munster's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse on 5 April 2014, scoring a try in the 47–23 win.[19] Zebo started in Munster's semi-final against Toulon on 27 April 2014, scoring a try in the 24–16 defeat.[20]

Zebo scored a try in Munster's win against Treviso on 12 September 2014.[21] He scored a hat-trick against Zebre on 19 September 2014, a game in which he won the Man-of-the-Match award.[22] Zebo started in Munster's first European Rugby Champions Cup game against Sale Sharks on 18 October 2014.[23] He started against Saracens F.C. in Round 2 of the Champions Cup on 24 October 2014.[24] Zebo started in the Round 3 game against ASM Clermont Auvergne on 6 December 2014.[25] He also started in the reverse fixture against Clermont on 14 December 2014.[26] Zebo started against Saracens on 17 January 2015.[27] He started at Fullback against Sale Sharks in Round 6 on 25 January 2015, scoring two tries and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in the 65–10 win.[28] Zebo scored a try in Munster's 42–20 win against Connacht on 28 March 2015. In doing so, he equaled Doug Howlett's record of 22 league tries for Munster.[29] Zebo scored a try in Munster's 3–34 win against Edinburgh on 11 April 2015, overtaking Howlett's record.[30] He scored a try in the 30–19 win against Treviso on 25 April 2015.[31] Zebo scored a try in Munster's 21–18 play-off semi-final win against Ospreys on 23 May 2015.[32] He started for Munster in the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final against Glasgow Warriors on 30 May 2015.[33]

Zebo started the opening pool game of the 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup against Treviso on 14 November 2015, scoring a try in Munster's 32-7 win.[34] He started against Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup on 12 December 2015.[35] On 16 January 2016, Zebo scored a try in Munster's Round 4 Champions Cup game against Stade Français, equaling Anthony Horgan's record of 41 tries scored for Munster.[36] On 1 February 2016, it was announced that Zebo had signed a new two-year contract with Munster and the IRFU, a deal which will see him remain with the province until at least June 2018.[37]

Ireland

2011–13

Zebo was selected to train alongside the main 24-man Irish senior squad for the first week of their training for the 2012 Six Nations Championship.[38] He was called up into the Ireland Wolfhounds squad for their game against England Saxons after Luke Fitzgerald failed to recover from injury in time.[39] He made his Wolfhounds debut against England Saxons on 28 January 2012, scoring a try during the game.[40] He was selected in Ireland's senior squad for the 2012 tour to New Zealand, and made his senior Ireland debut on 9 June 2012, starting on the left-wing in the first test.[41]

Zebo scored his first try for Ireland against Argentina on 24 November 2012, whilst playing at Fullback.[42]

Zebo was named in Ireland's training squad for the 2013 Six Nations Championship on 17 January 2013.[43] He made his Six Nations debut on 2 February 2013, scoring a try as Ireland beat Wales 22–30 in the Millennium Stadium.[44] Zebo hit the headlines when he used a back-heel flick to retain the ball in the lead-up to Cian Healy's try for Ireland against Wales.[45] He started against England on 10 February 2013, but went off injured early in the first half.[46] Zebo was ruled out for 10 weeks after suffering a broken foot during the match.[47] Zebo won the IRUPA award for Supporters Player of the Year on 8 May 2013.[48] He was also nominated for Players' Player of the Year, but lost out to Ulster's Nick Williams.[49] Zebo was named in the Ireland squad for the 2013 Ireland tour to North America on 19 May 2013.[50] He started against the USA on 8 June 2013.[51]

2014–16

Zebo was added to the extended Ireland training squad for the 2014 Six Nations Championship on 20 January 2014.[52] He came off the bench for Ireland Wolfhounds in their friendly against England Saxons on 25 January 2014.[53] Zebo was added to the Ireland squad for the 2014 Six Nations fixture against Italy.[54]

Zebo was named in the Ireland squad for their 2014 Tour to Argentina on 19 May 2014.[55] He started the first test against Argentina on 7 June 2014.[56] Zebo also started the second test against Argentina on 14 June 2014, scoring one try.[57]

Zebo was named in the Ireland squad for the 2014 Guinness Series on 21 October 2014.[58] He started in the 29–15 win against South Africa on 8 November 2014.[59] He also started in the 49–7 win against Georgia on 16 November 2014, scoring a try.[60] Zebo started against Australia on 22 November 2014, scoring the opening try in the 26–23 win for Ireland.[61]

He was named in the Ireland squad for the opening rounds of the 2015 Six Nations Championship on 1 February 2015.[62] He started against Italy on 7 February 2015.[63] Zebo started against France on 14 February 2015.[64] He started in the 19–9 win against England on 1 March 2015.[65] Zebo started against Wales on 14 March 2015.[66] England's failure to score enough points against France meant Ireland won the 2015 Six Nations Championship, the first time Ireland have won back-to-back championships since 1948–49.[67]

Zebo was named in the 45-man training squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup on 24 June 2015.[68] He came off the bench in the first World Cup warm-up against Wales on 8 August 2015, scoring a try in the 21–35 win for Ireland.[69] Zebo started the second warm-up against Scotland on 15 August 2015, scoring another try and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Ireland's 28–22 win.[70] He was selected in the final 31-man squad for the World Cup when it was announced on 1 September 2015.[71] Zebo started in the final warm-up game against England on 5 September 2015.[72] He came off the bench during the opening pool game against Canada on 19 September 2015.[73] Zebo started the second pool game against Romania on 27 September 2015.[74] Following an injury to Rob Kearney, Zebo started at fullback in Ireland's 16-9 win over Italy on 4 October 2015.[75]

On 20 January 2016, Zebo was named in Ireland's 35-man squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship.[76] On 7 February 2016, Zebo started at Fullback against Wales in Ireland's opening match of the Six Nations.[77]

British and Irish Lions

2013

Zebo was called up the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia squad as injury-cover for Ireland teammate Tommy Bowe on 8 June 2013.[78] He started against Waratahs on 15 June 2013.[79] Zebo came off the bench against ACT Brumbies on 18 June 2013.[80] He started against Melbourne Rebels on 25 June 2013.[81]

Honours

Ireland

Personal life

Zebo is the son of a Martinique-born French athlete, Arthur and his Irish wife, Cork-born Lynda.[82] His older sister, Jessika Zebo, is a project co-ordinator who has represented Ireland as a hurdler.[83] In May 2015, Zebo and his partner Elvira Fernández welcomed their first child, a son named Jacob.[84]

References

  1. ↑ "Six Nations 2013: how Ireland's Simon Zebo was the king of all school sports". telegraph.co.uk. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Simon Zebo was a great loss to Cork hurling, let me tell you". thescore.ie. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  3. ↑ www.avondaleunited.com
  4. ↑ "Old Dogs Lead The Way Down The Hard Road". munsterrugby.ie. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "McGahan's Bold Approach Rewarded". munsterrugby.ie. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Set-Piece & Defence Gives Munster The Edge". munsterrugby.ie. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  7. ↑ "Munster Close The Deal". munsterrugby.ie. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Nine Contract Extensions Agreed". munsterrugby.ie. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Munster Go Through". munsterrugby.ie. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Alone They Stand". munsterrugby.ie. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Munster Lose A Game of Two Halves". munsterrugby.ie. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "Tommy O'Donnell Named Munster Player of the Year". munsterrugby.ie. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "Nominations Made For Munster Rugby Awards". munsterrugby.ie. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  14. ↑ "Zebo Injury Update". munsterrugby.ie. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "Squad Update". munsterrugby.ie. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Quarter Final Place Secured". munsterrugby.ie. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Bonus-Point Munster Move Into Home Quarters". munsterrugby.ie. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "O'Callaghan Breaks Record In Bonus-Point Win". munsterrugby.ie. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Vintage Munster March On". munsterrugby.ie. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  20. ↑ "Toulon End Munster's European Campaign". munsterrugby.ie. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "Munster Pass Treviso Test". munsterrugby.ie. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Zebo Hat-Trick Against Zebre". munsterrugby.ie. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Keatley Kicks Munster On". munsterrugby.ie. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Munster Overcome Saracens". munsterrugby.ie. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Clermont Claim Win At Thomond Park". munsterrugby.ie. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  26. ↑ "Losing Bonus Point Secured At Clermont". munsterrugby.ie. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  27. ↑ "Munster Lose Out In London". munsterrugby.ie. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "Munster Finish With Flourish". munsterrugby.ie. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "Bonus Point Win At Thomond Park". munsterrugby.ie. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "Bonus Point Win At Murrayfield". munsterrugby.ie. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  31. ↑ "Munster Make Home Advantage Count". munsterrugby.ie. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "Final Beckons After Incredible Win". munsterrugby.ie. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  33. ↑ "Munster Well Beaten As Warriors Claim Title". munsterrugby.ie. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  34. ↑ "Job Done In Thomond". munsterrugby.ie. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  35. ↑ "Tigers Pounce In Thomond". munsterrugby.ie. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  36. ↑ "Munster Bounce Back In Style At Thomond". munsterrugby.ie. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  37. ↑ "Zebo Commits To Munster". munsterrugby.ie. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  38. ↑ "Ireland And O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Squads Announced". irishrugby.ie. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  39. ↑ "Changes To Ireland And O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Squads". irishrugby.ie. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  40. ↑ "Saxons Hang On". munsterrugby.ie. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  41. ↑ "Ireland Open Series With Auckland Defeat". irishrugby.ie. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  42. ↑ "Tries Flow As Ireland Pummel Pumas". irishrugby.ie. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "Ireland Training Squad Announced". irishrugby.ie. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  44. ↑ "Cardiff Cracker Gets Ireland Up And Running". irishrugby.ie. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  45. ↑ "Cian Healy Try Wales v Ireland Match 02 Feb 2013". YouTube. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  46. ↑ "Penalties Decide It As Ireland Lose Brutal Contest". irishrugby.ie. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  47. ↑ "Six Nations: Zebo 10 weeks outs; Sexton faces scan". BBC Sport. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  48. ↑ "IRUPA Awards For Holland And Zebo". munsterrugby.ie. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  49. ↑ "Williams Chosen As IRUPA Players' Player of the Year". irishrugby.ie. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  50. ↑ "Ireland Squads Announced For Summer Tours". irishrugby.ie. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  51. ↑ "O'Mahony Leads Young Guns To Victory in Tour Opener". irishrugby.ie. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  52. ↑ "Gilroy And Zebo Join Ireland Squad". irishrugby.ie. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  53. ↑ "Wolfhounds Hold On For Hard-Fought Victory". irishrugby.ie. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  54. ↑ "Zebo, Kilcoyne And Ryan Added To Ireland Squad". munsterrugby.ie. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  55. ↑ "Ireland Squad Named For Argentina". munsterrugby.ie. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  56. ↑ "New-Look Ireland Stretch Clear Of Pumas In Second Half". irishrugby.ie. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  57. ↑ "Ireland Wrap Up Series Win In Argentina". irishrugby.ie. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  58. ↑ "Ireland Name 37 Man Squad For Guinness Series". irishrugby.ie. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  59. ↑ "Clinical Ireland Claim Springbok Scalp". irishrugby.ie. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  60. ↑ "Ireland Outgun Georgia With Six-Try Second Half Salvo". irishrugby.ie. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  61. ↑ "Thrilling Win Seals Series Clean Sweep For Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  62. ↑ "Ireland Name 38-Man Squad For Six Nations Opening Rounds". irishrugby.ie. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  63. ↑ "Murray And O'Donnell Tries Steer Ireland To Rome Win". irishrugby.ie. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  64. ↑ "Sexton's Boot Guides Ireland To Hard-Fought Victory Over France". irishrugby.ie. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  65. ↑ "Henshaw's First Try Sees Ireland Overcome England". irishrugby.ie. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  66. ↑ "Ireland's Winning Run Ended By Wales". irishrugby.ie. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  67. ↑ "Thrilling Title Finish Sees Ireland Crowned Champions Again". irishrugby.ie. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  68. ↑ "9 Munster Players Ireland Training Squad". munsterrugby.ie. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  69. ↑ "Ireland Win Opening Warm-Up Clash In Cardiff". irishrugby.ie. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  70. ↑ "Fitzgerald Try Proves Decisive In Scrappy GUINNESS Series Encounter". irishrugby.ie. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  71. ↑ "Ireland Squad Named For Rugby World Cup". irishrugby.ie. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  72. ↑ "England Consign Ireland To Second Warm-Up Defeat". irishrugby.ie. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  73. ↑ "Bonus Point Win Gets Ireland Off To Satisfying World Cup Start". irishrugby.ie. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  74. ↑ "Ireland Back On Top After Second Bonus Point Victory". irishrugby.ie. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  75. ↑ "Earls' Eighth RWC Try Sends Ireland Through To Quarter-Finals". irishrugby.ie. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  76. ↑ "Ireland Squad Named For Opening Rounds Of RBS Six Nations". irishrugby.ie. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  77. ↑ "Ireland And Wales Play Out Pulsating Draw In Dublin". irishrugby.ie. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  78. ↑ "Zebo 'Over The Moon' With Lions Call-Up". irishrugby.ie. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  79. ↑ "Halfpenny Is Record Breaking Hero". lionsrugby.com. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  80. ↑ "Brumbies Make History As They Take Lions' Record". lionsrugby.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  81. ↑ "Five Try Boost Ahead of Second Test". lionsrugby.com. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  82. ↑ "Debut Delight: Zebo still smiling". Irish Times. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  83. ↑ "Introducing Jessika Zebo". Eagle's Flight. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  84. ↑ "Exclusive: Simon Zebo has first child, baby boy Jacob, with girlfriend Elvira". independent.ie. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.

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