The Irish rugby community is in mourning after the sudden death of former Ireland international and coach Tom Tierney.
Tierney, who was ordinary 46 years olddied unexpectedly. He was a talented scrum half who represented his country eight times 1999 and 2000.
Tierney’s rugby journey began in the All Ireland League with Richmond, Garryowen and Galwegians. He went on to represent Munster and Connacht before moving to England to play for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership between 2002 and 2004.
After he retired from playing, Tierney turned his attention to coaching. He started at AIL level with Garryowen and Cork Constitution before coaching the Ireland women’s team from 2014 to 2017.
During his tenure, Ireland won the Six Nations Championship in 2015. He also worked as an assistant coach of Ireland’s U-20s and as a talent identification coach at Munster.
Kevin Potts, the CEO of the Irish Rugby Football Union, expressed his shock and sadness at Tierney’s passing. He sent his condolences to Tierney’s family, friends and former teammates.
Potts praised Tierney’s contributions to Irish rugby, both as a player and as a coach, acknowledging the immense pride he brought to those who supported him throughout his career.
Tierney’s coaching career has also included head coaching roles with Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Garryowen, Cork Constitution and the Ireland Club XV side. He has worked as the IRFU’s national talent coach since 2021, from the high-performance center of Munster, where he has teamed up with the province’s academy players.
The loss of Tom Tierney has left a void in Irish rugby that will be hard to fill. He will be remembered as a talented player and coach who dedicated his life to the sport he loved. His impact on the Irish rugby community will be felt for years to come and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players and coaches.
