Kieran Hardy
Full nameKieran Richard Hardy
Date of birth (1995-11-30) 30 November 1995
Place of birthCarmarthen, Wales
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb; 14 st 2 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Scarlets
Youth career
Pontyberem RFC
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016 Carmarthen Quins 55 (40)
2014–2016 Scarlets 6 (0)
2016–2018 Jersey Reds 55 (85)
2018– Scarlets 71 (107)
Correct as of 23 February 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Wales U20 5 (0)
2020– Wales 17 (20)
Correct as of 18:55, 3 March 2023 (UTC)

Kieran Richard Hardy (born 30 November 1995) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who primarily plays scrum-half for the Scarlets of the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Wales at international level, having made his test debut against Georgia during the Autumn Nations Cup. Hardy has previously played for clubs such as the Jersey Reds in the past.[1]

Club career

Hardy first played for local side Pontyberem RFC until the age of 16.[2] He began his professional career with Carmarthen Quins, while progressing through the age grade ranks with the Scarlets.[3] Despite making his professional debut with the Scarlets in 2014, he departed the club in 2016 in order to gain experience and game time, as it was limited with competition in the scrum half jersey.[2] Hardy subsequently joined RFU Championship club Jersey Reds, along with Scarlet teammate Regan King.[4]

In his first season with Jersey, Hardy helped the club reach the final of the British and Irish Cup. Jersey lost to Munster A 29–28, despite Hardy scoring a try in the fixture.[5] Hardy extended his contract for one more season, in 2017.[6]

In 2018 Hardy was voted Player of the Season, before departing Jersey.[7] Hardy rejoined the Scarlets ahead of the 2018–19 Pro14 season, following the departure of Aled Davies.[8]

Hardy was voted Breakthrough Player of the Season in his first term back in Llanelli, scoring seven tries in 18 matches.[3] He was voted Player of the Month for October 2019, scoring multiple impactful tries early in the season.[9]

International career

In 2015, Hardy was selected for Wales U20, featuring in the 2015 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[10][11]

On 6 October 2020 Hardy was named in the senior Wales squad for the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.[12] He made his debut for Wales on the 18 November 2020 in the starting line up for the 18-0 win against Georgia.[13] His halfback partner for the fixture was Callum Sheedy, who played alongside Hardy for Jersey in 2017 while on loan from Bristol. Hardy scored his first international try on 5 December 2020, against Italy.

Hardy retained his place in the Welsh squad for the 2021 Six Nations.[14] He made his first Six Nations appearance on 13 February 2021, coming off the bench against Scotland.[15] Hardy was selected to start the following match against England, and scored a try as Wales won 40–24, securing the Triple Crown.[16] After suffering a hamstring injury during the match, Hardy was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, as Wales won the championship title.[17]

Upon returning to fitness, Hardy was once against selected for the Wales squad for the summer tests against Canada and Argentina.[18] Hardy featured in the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals, and scored his third test try during the match against Fiji.[19]

During the 2022 Six Nations, Hardy once again scored against England, appearing three times off the bench during the tournament.[20] That summer he was selected for the 2022 Wales rugby union tour of South Africa, and started all three tests.[21] During the tour, Wales won the second test 13–12, securing a first ever win over the Springboks in South Africa.[22]

Hardy was selected for the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals, coming off the bench against New Zealand and Australia.[23] Hardy retained his place in the squad for the 2023 Six Nations, having been selected by returning head coach Warren Gatland.[24]

List of international test tries

TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1 ItalyLlanelli, WalesParc y ScarletsAutumn Nations Cup5 December 2020Win38–18
2 EnglandCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2021 Six Nations27 February 2021Win40–24
3 FijiCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2021 Autumn Internationals14 November 2021Win38–23
4 EnglandLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2022 Six Nations26 February 2022Loss23–19

References

  1. ↑ "Kieran Hardy". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Kieran Hardy: Ten things you should know about the Wales scrum-half". Rugby World. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 Southcombe, Matthew (7 October 2020). "Kieran Hardy's 'unbelievable' journey: From Channel Islands to the Wales squad". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Ex-All Black King to join Jersey RFC". Jersey Reds. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Munster A 29-28 Jersey Reds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Five players sign new Jersey Reds deals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Kieran makes it the Hardy way". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Kieran Hardy sign for Scarlets". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Kieran Hardy voted Intersport player of the month for October". Scarlets Rugby. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Wales Under 20 Six Nations squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Bywater, Alex (5 May 2015). "The Wales Under-20 squad for the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Wales name uncapped Bristol duo Lloyd and Sheedy in autumn squad". 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  13. ↑ Lloyd debut
  14. ↑ "Wales name squad for 2021 Guinness Six Nations - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "Williams back for injury-hit Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  16. ↑ Calvert, Lee (27 February 2021). "Wales 40-24 England: Six Nations 2021 – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Wales scrum-half Hardy out of Six Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Five uncapped players in Wales' squad for summer series - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Autumn Internationals: FT Wales 38-23 Fiji - late try flurry sees Wales beat 14-man Fiji". BBC Sport. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  20. ↑ Calvert, Lee (26 February 2022). "England 23-19 Wales: Six Nations 2022 – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "Wales name squad for South Africa Test Series - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "South Africa 12-13 Wales - Reaction as Wales secure famous win". BBC Sport. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "Wales squad for 2022 Autumn Nations Series announced - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  24. ↑ "Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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