Tommy Bowe

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Tommy Bowe


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birthyear = 1984
birthmonth = 02
birthday = 22
placeofbirth = Co Monaghan,Ireland
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height = 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
weight = 15 st 2 lbs (96 kg)
ru_position = Wing|capital=yes
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ru_nationalcaps = 15
ru_nationalpoints = (25)
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ru_proclubs = Queen's University R.F.C.
Belfast Harlequins
Ospreys
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ru_province = Ulster
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school = Royal School, Armagh
university = University of Ulster, Jordanstown

Thomas John (Tommy) Bowe (born 22 February 1984) is an Irish rugby union footballer from Monaghan, Ireland. He plays on the wing for the Ospreys and Ireland. He represented Monaghan minors at Gaelic football.

A former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Northern Ireland, he was a Schoolboy provincial full-back, only converting to wing whilst playing for Ireland U-21s. His form both here and at Irish club level prompted a call-up to the Ulster squad at the end of the 2003-2004 season, scoring on his debut against Connacht. He has been an Ulster regular since then. He became, and remains, a firm crowd favourite at Ravenhill and won Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year Award at the Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner in May 2005.

Bowe made his international debut against the USA during the 2004 IRB Autumn Internationals becoming the first player from County Monaghan to win an Ireland cap since the 1920s. He marked his introduction to test rugby with a second half try. Bowe won further caps during Ireland's tour to Japan and their Autumn Internationals in 2005. With that experience and an impressive run of form for Ulster in the Celtic League, he made the 22-man panel for Ireland's 2006 Six Nations opener against Italy, and went on to score a try in that game.

After Ireland's poor first half against France in the following Championship match, Bowe was axed from the squad - prompting allegations of him being made a scapegoat by Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan. An injury-plagued latter part of 2006 precipitated a downturn in form, though a rejuvenated Bowe came back with 5 tries in 6 matches to earn his place in Ireland's 2007 28 man 2006 Six Nations squad. Tommy earned himself a place in Ireland's original 2008 Six Nations squad after a very good season with Ulster. However, he was overlooked for the Ireland matchday squad to play Italy in the tournament's opening game, despite his scintillating form. He was again excluded from the Squad the following week when Ireland were narrowly defeated by France in Paris, however on February 19 2008 Tommy was named in the Irish XV at Right Wing for the visit of Scotland to Croke Park, a match in which he scored two tries .

On the 25th of January 2008 he confirmed that he would leave Ulster at the end of the 2008 Celtic League, season, to join the Ospreys on a three year deal.

His father, Paul, won a Leinster School’s Cup with Newbridge College on the 1970 team, captained by Mick Quinn and went on to win a cap for Leinster Schools. His sister, Hannah, is an Ireland hockey international.

References

External links

* [http://www.ulsterrugby.com/13_116.php Ulster profile]