# Declan Fitzpatrick

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Declan_Fitzpatrick
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Declan_Fitzpatrick.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declan_Fitzpatrick
> Source revision: 1282261234
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Irish former rugby union footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name               = Declan Fitzpatrick
| image              =
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Declan Fitzpatrick
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|7|12}}
| birth_place        = [Bromsgrove](/source/Bromsgrove), England
| height             = {{height|m=1.8}}
| weight             = {{convert|118|kg|stlb}}
| ru_currentteam     = 
| ru_currentposition = [Prop](/source/Prop_(rugby_union))
| position           = [Prop](/source/Prop_(rugby_union))
| amatyears1         = 
| amatteam1          = [Moseley](/source/Moseley)
| amatteam2          = [Belfast Harlequins](/source/Belfast_Harlequins)
| amatteam3          = [Dungannon](/source/Dungannon_RFC)
| ru_amupdate        = 
| years1             = 2006–2015
| clubs1             = [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby)
| apps1              = 98
| points1            = 15
| ru_clubupdate      = 1 June 2020
| repyears1          = 2006–2013
| repyears2          = 2012–2013
| repteam1           = [Ireland Wolfhounds](/source/Ireland_Wolfhounds)
| repteam2           = [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team)
| repcaps1           = 9
| repcaps2           = 7
| reppoints1         = 0
| reppoints2         = 0
| ru_ntupdate        = 24 November 2013
| university         = [University of Ulster](/source/Ulster_University) 
}}

'''Declan Fitzpatrick''' (born 12 July 1983) is an Irish former [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) player. He played for [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) from 2006 to 2015, and won seven caps for [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team).

Born in [Bromsgrove](/source/Bromsgrove), [Worcestershire](/source/Worcestershire), England to parents from counties [Galway](/source/County_Galway) and [Mayo](/source/County_Mayo),<ref name=close>Jonathan Bradley, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/we-were-so-close-its-still-hard-to-take-fitzpatrick/35189841.html "We were so close, it's still hard to take: Fitzpatrick"], ''Belfast Telegraph'', 5 November 2016</ref> he was identified as a prospect by the [Irish Exiles](/source/Irish_Exiles_(rugby_union)) programme, and moved to [Belfast](/source/Belfast) where he played for [Belfast Harlequins](/source/Belfast_Harlequins), and later for [Dungannon](/source/Dungannon_RFC).<ref name=inside>Patrick McCarry, [https://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/declan-fitzpatrick-concussion-retires-rugby-21348 "REVEALED: The inside story of Declan Fitzpatrick's decision to quit rugby due to concussion"], SportsJoe</ref> while studying quantity surveying at the [University of Ulster](/source/University_of_Ulster).<ref name=close /> He was part of the Irish national academy,<ref>Gavin Mairs, "The way forward is back home", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 29 August 2002</ref> and represented Ireland at under-21 level.<ref name=call-ups>Edward Newman, "Ulster give Fitzpatrick and Jackson Cup call-ups", ''Irish Examiner'', 1 October 2004</ref>

He made his debut for Ulster in 2006, and made 98 appearances for the province.<ref name=inside /> He was capped seven times for Ireland,<ref name=suffered>Ruaidhri O'Connor, [https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/my-family-life-suffered-and-i-became-depressed-ireland-international-declan-fitzpatrick-on-his-concussion-enforced-retirement-31148046.html "'My family life suffered and I became depressed' - Ireland international Declan Fitzpatrick on his concussion-enforced retirement"], ''Belfast Telegraph'', 16 April 2015</ref> including three test appearances on the [2012 tour of New Zealand](/source/2012_Ireland_rugby_union_tour_of_New_Zealand). His final appearance for Ireland was in a 2013 defeat to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team).<ref name=inside />

His final match for Ulster was a [Champions Cup](/source/European_Rugby_Champions_Cup) defeat away to [Toulon](/source/RC_Toulonnais) in January 2015.<ref name=inside /> He announced his retirement in April 2015 for medical reasons,<ref name=suffered /> having sustained six concussions in his career.<ref name=inside /> He issued legal proceedings against the [IRFU](/source/Irish_Rugby_Football_Union), Ulster and [World Rugby](/source/World_Rugby) in March 2023 in relation to head injuries.<ref>Jonathan Bradley, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/former-irish-prop-declan-fitzpatrick-to-sue-ulster-rugby-and-irfu-over-alleged-concussion-injuries/42026510.html "Former Irish prop Declan Fitzpatrick to sue Ulster Rugby and IRFU over alleged concussion injuries"], ''Belfast Telegraph'', 29 September 2022</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland-tour-2012/rugby/player/15199.html ESPN Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzpatrick, Declan}}
Category:Living people
Category:1983 births
Category:Dungannon RFC players
Category:Belfast Harlequins rugby union players
Category:Ireland international rugby union players
Category:Rugby union props
Category:Irish Exiles rugby union players
Category:Ulster Rugby players
Category:Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Declan Fitzpatrick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declan_Fitzpatrick) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declan_Fitzpatrick?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.