Lee Byrne facts for kids
| Birth name | Lee Martin Byrne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 June 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bridgend, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Andrea Byrne (wife) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career
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Playing information
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Lee Byrne was born on June 1, 1980. He is a Welsh former professional rugby union and rugby league player. He played during the 2000s and 2010s.
Contents
Playing for Rugby Clubs
Lee Byrne started his rugby career playing for local teams. He played for Bridgend Athletic RFC and Tondu RFC. He usually played as a full-back or wing.
He also played rugby league for Bridgend Blue Bulls. After being noticed there, he joined the Llanelli Scarlets rugby union team.
Key Moments with Clubs
In 2007, while playing against Connacht, Lee Byrne stepped up. Their main kicker, Shaun Connor, got injured. Lee took over and successfully kicked two penalties and two conversions.
Later, Lee Byrne decided to move to a French club. He signed a three-year deal with ASM Clermont Auvergne. He joined them after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
In 2014, it was announced that Lee would return to Wales. He agreed to join Newport Gwent Dragons. He played for them from the end of the 2013–14 season.
On April 23, 2015, Lee Byrne announced his retirement from rugby. He had a shoulder injury that he could not recover from.
Representing Wales and the Lions
Lee Byrne's great performances for the Llanelli Scarlets led to a call-up. He joined the Welsh national squad in 2005. He made his first appearance against New Zealand on November 5 at the Millennium Stadium.
He also played in matches against Fiji and South Africa. He continued to play for Wales in the 2006 Six Nations Championship. He also played against Argentina.
Grand Slam Success
Lee Byrne was a key part of the Welsh team that won the 2008 Six Nations Championship. This was a "Grand Slam" win, meaning they beat every other team in the tournament. He scored tries against England and Italy during this championship.
After his strong performances in 2008, many thought he would join the British & Irish Lions. This is a special team made up of the best players from the UK and Ireland. On April 21, 2009, he was indeed chosen for the Lions tour to South Africa.
A Moment of Controversy
In February 2010, during a match against Scotland, there was a discussion. Scotland's coach, Andy Robinson, suggested Lee Byrne had acted to get a penalty for Wales. Wales scored from this penalty and went on to win the match.
Lee Byrne was also part of the Wales squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He played his final international match in a pool game against Fiji.
International Tries Scored
Lee Byrne scored several tries for Wales and the British & Irish Lions. A try is worth five points in rugby.
Tries for Wales
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina |
Buenos Aires, Argentina | Estadio Jose Amalfitani | 2006 June rugby union tests | 17 June 2006 | Loss |
| 2 | Pacific Islanders | Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2006 Autumn Internationals | 11 November 2006 | Win |
| 3 |  England |
London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2008 Six Nations | 2 February 2008 | Win |
| 4 |  Italy |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2008 Six Nations | 3 February 2008 | Win |
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 |  Australia |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2008 Autumn Internationals | 29 November 2008 | Win |
| 7 |  France |
Paris, France | Stade de France | 2009 Six Nations | 27 February 2009 | Loss |
| 8 |  Scotland |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2010 Six Nations | 13 February 2010 | Win |
| 9 |  New Zealand |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2010 Autumn Internationals | 27 November 2010 | Loss |
| 10 |  Namibia |
New Plymouth, New Zealand | Yarrow Stadium | 2011 Rugby World Cup | 26 September 2011 | Win |
Tries for British & Irish Lions
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  South Africa |
Durban, South Africa | Kings Park Stadium | 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa | 20 June 2009 | Loss |
Lee Byrne's Personal Life
In March 2011, Lee Byrne became engaged to ITV Wales Tonight presenter Andrea Benfield. They got married on New Year's Day in 2012. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2019.
Living with Dyslexia
Lee Byrne has openly talked about having dyslexia. This is a learning difference that can make reading and writing harder. He shared how it sometimes caused challenges, especially when trying to learn French while playing in France. Some teammates thought he was not trying hard enough.
However, Lee also sees his dyslexia as a strength. He believes it helped him on the rugby field. He said, "I could see space before it happened - quicker than anybody else - so in a way I suppose it was a gift for me." This shows how a challenge can also bring unique abilities.
In November 2017, Lee Byrne published his autobiography. It was called The Byrne Identity. Parts of his book were shared in the Western Mail newspaper.
