Keith Wood facts for kids
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| Birth name | Keith Gerard Mallinson Wood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 27 January 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Munchin's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Gordon Wood (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keith Wood (born 27 January 1972) is a famous Irish former rugby union player. He played as a hooker, which is a key position in the front row of a rugby team. Keith played for the Irish national team and the British & Irish Lions. He also played for clubs like Garryowen, Harlequins, and Munster.
People called him 'The Raging Potato' because he had a bald head. He was also nicknamed 'Uncle Fester' because he looked a bit like the character from The Addams Family. Many people think Keith Wood was the best hooker of his time. He even won the first-ever World Rugby Player of the Year award.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Keith Wood was born in Killaloe, County Clare, in Ireland. He went to school at St Munchin's College in Limerick. His father, Gordon Wood, was also a rugby player. Gordon played as a prop for Ireland 29 times.
Playing for Clubs
Keith started his rugby career with the Garryowen team. He helped them win the All Ireland titles in 1992 and 1994. After that, he moved to play for Harlequins.
In the 1999–2000 season, he returned to Ireland to play for Munster. He played in the European Rugby Cup final with Munster. They lost that game to Northampton Saints by a score of 9-8. After one season, he went back to play for Harlequins.
When he returned to Harlequins in 2000, he helped them win the Challenge Cup final. They beat Narbonne 42–33. This made Harlequins the first English club to win that important tournament.
Playing for Ireland and the Lions
Keith Wood first played for Ireland in 1994 against Australia. He played 58 games for Ireland and 5 games for the British & Irish Lions. While he wasn't always perfect at the set piece (like scrums), his real strength was his leadership. He was also amazing in open play, often dominating the field.
He joined the Lions tours in 1997 and 2001. In 1997, he helped the Lions win their series against the Springboks 2-1. In 2001, he won the first-ever IRB International Player of the Year award. Keith also had the honor of being the captain for the Irish team.
During the 1999 World Cup, he scored four tries in one game against the USA. This was a fantastic achievement for a hooker. Ireland was later knocked out of the tournament by Argentina.
Keith Wood stopped playing rugby after the 2003 World Cup. Brian O'Driscoll took over as the captain of the Irish team after him.
Amazing Achievements
Individual Awards
- IRB Player of the Year - 2001
Club Trophies
Harlequins
- European Challenge Cup - 2001
Legacy in Rugby
Keith Wood was recognized for his great career in rugby. He was put into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2005. Later, in 2014, he was also added to the IRB Hall of Fame.
When he retired, Keith held a record for hookers. He had scored 15 tries in international test matches. This was the most tries ever scored by a hooker or any player in the "tight five" (forward players). The old record was 12 tries, held by Sean Fitzpatrick from New Zealand. His record has since been broken by Joe Taufete'e from the USA.
After Rugby
After retiring from playing, Keith Wood became a rugby expert. He often appears on the BBC as a regular commentator. He also writes articles for The Daily Telegraph newspaper as a freelance journalist.
Life Outside Rugby
When he was younger, Keith Wood also played hurling, which is another popular Irish sport. He was part of the Clare GAA team in 1988. In 2018, Keith opened a café and restaurant. It's called Wood & Bell and is located in his hometown of Killaloe.
See also
In Spanish: Keith Wood para niños
