{{Short description|Irish rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2015}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Keith Gleeson | image = KeithGleeson.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Keith Gleeson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|6|17}} | birth_place = Dublin, Ireland | height = 1.86 m | weight = {{convert|98|kg|stlb lb}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/team/results/squad_leinster_first_team.php?player=4310&includeref=dynamic#.UW1oIrXvtng|title=All Fixtures & Results}}</ref> | ru_currentteam = | ru_currentposition = | position = [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = [[Northern Suburbs Rugby Club|Northern Suburbs]] | amatteam2 = [[St Mary's College RFC|St Mary's College]] | ru_amupdate = | superyears1 = 1997–2001 | super1 = {{Rut|Waratahs}} | superapps1 = | superpoints1 = | super14update = | years1 = 2001–2008 | clubs1 = [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] | apps1 = 120 | points1 = 70 | ru_clubupdate = 3 May 2008 | repyears1 = 1995 | repyears2 = 1996–1997 | repyears3 = 2001–2007 | repyears4 = 2002–2007 | repteam1 = [[Australia national under-19 rugby union team|Australia U19]] | repteam2 = [[Australia national under-21 rugby union team|Australia U21]] | repteam3 = [[Ireland Wolfhounds|Ireland A]] | repteam4 = [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] | repcaps1 = | repcaps2 = | repcaps3 = 6 | repcaps4 = 27 | reppoints1 = | reppoints2 = | reppoints3 = 5 | reppoints4 = 20 | ru_ntupdate = | school = [[St Aloysius' College (Sydney)|St Aloysius' College]] }}

'''Keith Gleeson''' (born 21 June 1976) is a retired [[Irish Australian]] [[rugby union]] football player.

== Early life == Gleeson was born in Dublin, Ireland, before moving to Australia with his family as a child. Raised in Sydney, Australia, Gleeson attended Catholic Jesuit school [[St Aloysius' College (Sydney)|St Aloysius' College]] representing the schools 1st XV rugby union team over 2 years and as captain in the latter and playing for the [[Combined Associated Schools|CAS]] 1st XV and the New South Wales 2nd XV. He went on to represent [[Australian national rugby union team|Australia]] at u/19 and u/21 (Captain).

== Professional rugby career == Gleeson has enjoyed a distinct career, representing [[Northern Suburbs Rugby Club|Northern Suburbs]] in the Sydney competition, the [[NSW Waratahs]] in the Super 12, [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] in Ireland and finally most notably [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]]. His preferred position is as an openside [[Flanker (rugby union)|flanker]]. Perhaps the highlight of his career was representing Ireland in the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]]. He stands 1.86&nbsp;m and his playing weight is 98&nbsp;kg. On numerous occasions [[George Hook]] has stated that Gleeson should start for Ireland as he feels he is their best openside flanker. Gleeson retired from professional rugby at the end of the 07/08 season with a Magners League winners medal.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/members/index.asp?locID=37&docID=108 Leinster profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061111111521/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/36_4571.php?player=428 ERC profile] *[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1463 Sporting Heroes profile] *{{Cite web |url=http://northsrugby.com.au/default.asp?id=19 |title=Norths Rugby Club Honour Roll |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050615040956/http://northsrugby.com.au/default.asp?id=19 |archive-date=15 June 2005 |url-status=dead }} *{{ItsRugby profile|517}} *{{ESPNscrum|13851}}

{{Ireland Squad 2003 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gleeson, Keith}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rugby union flankers]] [[Category:Australian rugby union players]] [[Category:Irish rugby union players]] [[Category:Ireland international rugby union players]] [[Category:Leinster Rugby players]] [[Category:St Mary's College RFC players]] [[Category:Irish emigrants to Australia]] [[Category:People educated at St Aloysius' College (Sydney)]] [[Category:Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Dublin (city)]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Sydney]] [[Category:New South Wales Waratahs players]] [[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:Northern Suburbs Rugby Club players]]