Robbie Henshaw facts for kids

Robert Anthony Henshaw (born on 12 June 1993) is an Irish professional rugby union player. He plays as a centre for the United Rugby Championship club Leinster. He also plays for the Ireland national team.

Early Life and Talents

Robbie Henshaw was born in Athlone, Ireland. He grew up in a place called Coosan. He went to Marist College in Athlone. In 2011, he helped his club team, Buccaneers Under 19, win important rugby titles. He was also the captain of his school's rugby team in 2012. They won the Connacht Senior Schools Cup for the first time in 35 years.

Besides rugby, Robbie also played Gaelic football when he was younger. He played for the senior team of Athlone at just 18 years old. He also played for the Westmeath minor team in 2010 and 2011.

Robbie comes from a family that loves sports. His uncle, David Henshaw, played rugby for Buccaneers and Connacht. His family also has a lot of musical talent. Robbie himself can play the accordion, fiddle, guitar, and piano! Because he is good at both music and sports, his teammates call him "One Man Band."

Club Rugby Journey

Robbie Henshaw has played for two main clubs in his professional rugby career: Connacht and Leinster.

Playing for Connacht

Robbie started his rugby journey with Connacht as a young player. He was part of the Connacht team that won the Under-20 Interprovincial Championship in 2011. He then joined the Connacht academy in 2012.

He played his first senior game for Connacht on 1 September 2012. He played as an outside centre against Cardiff Blues. In his first season, he played 17 games and scored his first try in April 2013. He often played as a fullback that season. Robbie also played in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup, which is a big European competition.

In December 2012, Robbie signed his first professional contract with Connacht. He continued to play regularly, sometimes at fullback and sometimes at centre. He played many games in the 2013–14 Pro12 and the 2013–14 Heineken Cup. He even helped Connacht win against Toulouse in France.

In the 2014–15 season, Robbie played less for Connacht because he was also playing for the Irish team. He still played in the league and scored tries in the Challenge Cup.

On 14 February 2016, it was announced that Robbie would leave Connacht at the end of the 2015–16 season. His last game for Connacht was a very special one. On 28 May 2016, he helped Connacht win their first ever major trophy, the 2015–16 Pro12! They beat Leinster 20–10 in the final.

Moving to Leinster

After his success with Connacht, Robbie joined Leinster. He made his debut for Leinster on 8 October 2016. It was a Pro12 game against Munster at the Aviva Stadium, which Leinster won 25-14. He has continued to be a key player for Leinster, helping them win many titles.

International Rugby Career

Robbie Henshaw has proudly represented Ireland at many levels, from youth teams to the senior national team.

Playing for Ireland's Younger Teams

Before playing for the senior team, Robbie played for various Irish youth teams. In November 2011, he made history by becoming the first player from his school, Marist College, to play for the Irish schools team. He also helped that team win the Under-18 European Championships. He later played for the Ireland Under-19 team.

In 2013, Robbie was part of the training squad for the 2013 Six Nations Championship. He also played for the Ireland Wolfhounds, which is a team for players who are close to the senior squad. In February 2013, he played for the Ireland Under-20 team, helping them win against England.

Playing for Ireland's Senior Team

Robbie was first called up to the senior Ireland squad in 2013. He made his debut on 16 November 2013, coming off the bench against Australia.

In 2015, Robbie was part of the Ireland squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship. On 1 March 2015, he scored his first try for Ireland in a big 19–9 win against England.

He also played in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He played in important games against Italy, France, and Argentina.

A memorable moment for Robbie was on 5 November 2016. He scored the winning try against New Zealand in Chicago. This was a historic win for Ireland. In March 2023, Robbie was part of the Ireland team that won the Grand Slam. This means they won all their games in the Six Nations Championship, which was only the fourth time Ireland had done this!

Playing for the British & Irish Lions

Robbie Henshaw has also been chosen to play for the British & Irish Lions. This is a special team made up of the best players from Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales.

He was a member of the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand. He played in several games during that tour. In 2021, he was again named in the squad for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He played in all three main test matches against South Africa, showing how important he is to the team.

Achievements and Awards

Robbie Henshaw has won many important titles throughout his career.

Ireland

• 5x Six Nations Championships: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2024
• 2x Grand Slams (winning all games in the Six Nations): 2018, 2023

Connacht

• 1x Pro 14 (league title): 2015/16

Leinster

• 4x Pro 14 (league titles): 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21
• 1x European Champions Cup: 2018

See also

In Spanish: Robbie Henshaw para niños