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Stuart McCloskey (born 6 August 1992) is an Ireland rugby union player, who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Ulster Rugby and the Ireland national team.
He has been Ulster's player of the year twice, and has twice been named on the Pro14 Dream Team. He is described as "a true cornerstone of this Ulster team, providing a rounded skillset at inside centre that includes strong ball-carrying, offloading, short and long passing, a breakdown threat, defensive communication, and even attacking kicking." "The Ulster depth chart: A World Cup winner and the thrilling back three", The42, 17 September 2021
In 2015–16 he made 23 appearances for Ulster , including 21 starts, scoring four tries and making 186 tackles, Ulster: Season Review 2015 – 2016, The Front Row Union, 23 May 2016 won his first senior cap for Ireland against England in the 2016 Six Nations Championship, and was named Ulster's Player of the Year. "Nick Williams Wins The Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of The Year Award", Ulster Tatler, 13 May 2016 In 2016–17 he made sixteen appearances, including thirteen starts, and scored two tries for Ulster, and has five caps for Ireland. In 2017–18 season he made 24 appearances, all starts, scored seven tries, and made four try assists, 213 tackles and 14 turnovers. Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18, The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018 He won his second cap for Ireland against Fiji in the 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals.
In 2018–19 he made 26 appearances, including 25 starts, scored four tries, made 232 tackles, and won 18 turnovers. Ulster Men: Who did what 2018-19, The Front Row Union, 18 July 2019 He made his 100th appearance for Ulster in February 2019.Jonathan Bradley, "McCloskey celebrates his 100th cap with crucial score as Ulster bring down Ospreys", Belfast Telegraph, 16 February 2019 He made his third Ireland cap, scoring a try, against the USA in the 2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals. At the end of the season he was named in the 2018–19 Pro14 Dream Team, and won Player of the Year and Supporters Club Player of the Year at the Ulster Rugby Awards.Darren Fullerton, "2019 Ulster Rugby Awards: Retiring captain Rory Best is named Heineken Personality of the Year", Belfast Live, 9 May 2019 In 2019–20 he made 17 appearances, all starts, and scored three tries. He was named on the Pro14 Dream Team for the second year running. In 2020–21 he made 15 appearances, all starts, scored two tries, made 121 tackles and 13 turnovers, and carried 171 times with 40 defenders beaten and five clean breaks. Ulster 2020-21 - Who Did What?, The Front Row Union, 12 August 2021 He played for Ireland against Georgia in the 2020 end-of-year internationals, and against Japan and the USA in July 2021. In the 2021–22 season he has made 15 appearances, all starts, and scored three tries. He made his 150th appearance for Ulster in March 2022.Paul Marshall, "Ulster have shown a strong case for the defence in victory over Leinster", Belfast Telegraph, 13 March 2022 He started all three of Ireland three tests in the 2022 end-of-year internationals, "McCloskey to start in Six Nations Opener", Ulster Rugby, 2 February 2023 and was named in the Irish 6 nations squad for 2023 on the 19 January 2023. He started in Ireland's 34-10 victory over Wales in the opening week. He was called up to the Ireland squad for their two-match tour of South Africa in July 2024. "Ireland Squad Update", Irish Rugby, 8 July 2024
He made his 200th appearance for Ulster in a home win against the Stormers in March 2025.Michael Sadlier, "Ulster hold on for third straight win after edging ten-try thriller against Stormers", Belfast Telegraph, 28 March 2025 McCloskey featured in Ireland's record 106-7 win over Portugal on 12 July 2025, scoring the opening try in the first minute.
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