# Willie Faloon > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Willie_Faloon > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Willie_Faloon.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Faloon > Source revision: 1336542685 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Irish rugby union player (born 1986)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Willie Faloon | image = | caption = | birth_name = William Faloon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|9|30}} | birth_place = [Armagh](/source/Armagh), [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland) | height = {{height|m=1.82}} | weight = {{convert|97|kg|stlb}} | ru_currentteam = | ru_currentposition = | position = [Flanker](/source/Flanker_(rugby_union)) | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = [Ballynahinch](/source/Ballynahinch_RFC) | ru_amupdate = | years1 = 2008–2012 | years2 = 2012–2015 | years3 = 2015–2016 | clubs1 = [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) | clubs2 = [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Rugby) | clubs3 = [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) | apps1 = 63 | apps2 = 39 | apps3 = 4 | points1 = 15 | points2 = 30 | points3 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = 19 March 2023 | repyears1 = 2011 | repteam1 = [Ireland Wolfhounds](/source/Ireland_Wolfhounds) | repcaps1 = 2 | reppoints1 = 5 | ru_ntupdate = 10 February 2015 | school = [Royal School Armagh](/source/The_Royal_School%2C_Armagh) | university = [University of Ulster](/source/University_of_Ulster) }} '''Willie Faloon''' (born 30 September 1986) is a [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) coach and former player from Northern Ireland. Since 2025, he has been defence and contact skills coach with [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby), having formerly been head coach at [City of Armagh RFC](/source/City_of_Armagh_RFC), an Elite Performance Development Officer with the Ulster academy, and defence coach and head coach for the [Ireland under-20 team](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team). As a player, he played openside flanker for Ulster and [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Rugby). ==Career== ===Playing career=== Faloon first played rugby at Keady Primary School, before attending [the Royal School, Armagh](/source/the_Royal_School%2C_Armagh), with whom he won the [Ulster Schools' Cup](/source/Ulster_Schools'_Cup) in 2004. After leaving school, he joined [Ballynahinch RFC](/source/Ballynahinch_RFC),[https://ulster.rugby/content/player-focus-willie-faloon "Player Focus: Willie Faloon"], Ulster Rugby, 23 March 2011 making his debut in the [All-Ireland League](/source/All-Ireland_League_(rugby_union)) in 2005."Malone play waiting game", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 14 October 2005 He joined the [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) academy, representing the province at under-21 and 'A' level,Gavin Mairs, "Anderson junior to make his Ulster debut", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 1 September 2005Richard Mulligan, "No great challenge!", ''News Letter'', 28 August 2006 before signing his first contract with the province in 2008.Tommy Nethery, "New Ulster contract for Pollock", ''Ulster Herald'', 11 December 2008 He made his senior debut against [Stade Francais](/source/Stade_Francais) in the [Heineken Cup](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_Heineken_Cup) in January 2009,{{cite web| url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_archive.php?player=78763&includeref=dynamic | work=ERC | title=Player Archive: Willie Faloon | accessdate=7 March 2014}} and his league debut against [Scarlets](/source/Scarlets) in the final game of the [2008–09 Celtic League](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_Celtic_League).{{cite web| url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/30.php?section=lineups&fixid=62845 | work=RaboDirectPRO12 | title=Scarlets 43 - 17 Ulster Rugby | accessdate=7 March 2014 | date=16 May 2009}} He played in 13 games in the [2009–10 Celtic League](/source/2009%E2%80%9310_Celtic_League), starting 12 of them, and scored his first try for the team against Scarlets on 2 October 2009.{{cite web| url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/teams/ulster/squad.php?player=20192&includeref=dynamic | work=RaboDirectPRO12 | title=Ulster Squad Index: Willie Faloon | accessdate=8 March 2014}} In European competition Faloon played in 4 games, starting 3 of them and scoring a try against [Bath](/source/Bath_Rugby). In the [2010–11 Celtic League](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_Celtic_League), Faloon played in 17 games for Ulster as they climbed from their 8th-place finish the previous season to finish sixth and qualify for the play-offs. In [that season's Heineken Cup](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_Heineken_Cup) Faloon played in six of the team's seven games, including coming on as a replacement in Ulster's quarter-final against [Northampton Saints](/source/Northampton_Saints) in [Stadium mk](/source/Stadium_mk). In the 2020-11 season, he played in 16 games in [Pro 12](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_Pro_12), as Ulster finished sixth. In the [2011–12 Heineken Cup](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_Heineken_Cup), he played five, with four of these appearances coming as a replacement. He came on from the bench against [Leinster](/source/Leinster_Rugby) in the [final](/source/2012_Heineken_Cup_Final). In the summer of 2012, Faloon joined [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Rugby) on a 2-year deal.{{cite web| url=http://www.u.tv/Sport/Ulsters-Faloon-to-leave-team/101b50ab-8031-42cc-98f0-8ca26db5dde9 | work=UTV Sport | title=Ulster's Faloon to leave team | accessdate=8 March 2014 | date=27 March 2012}} He played in 14 games in the [2012–13 Pro 12](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Pro_12) and scored three tries.{{cite web| url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/teams/connacht/squad.php?player=20192&includeref=dynamic | work=RaboDirectPRO12 | title=Connacht Squad Index: Willie Faloon | accessdate=8 March 2014}} He made his European debut for Connacht against [Zebre](/source/Zebre) in the [2012–13 Heineken Cup](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Heineken_Cup), and played 3 times for the team in the competition, starting in each game. At the end of his first year with the side, the Connacht Clan, the team's supporters club, voted him as their player of the season.{{cite web| url=http://connachtclan.com/news/221-player-of-the-year-2013-willie-faloon | work=Connacht Clan | title=Player of the Year 2013 - Willie Faloon | accessdate=7 March 2014 | year=2013}} He played three seasons at Connacht, making 39 appearances and scoring six tries, and represented the [Ireland Wolfhounds](/source/Ireland_Wolfhounds).[https://ulster.rugby/content/willie-faloon-to-return-to-ulster-rugby "Willie Faloon To Return To Ulster Rugby"], Ulster Rugby, 10 February 2015 He returned to Ulster on a one-year deal for the 2015-16 season,{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/31374102 | work=BBC | title=Connacht Flanker Willie Faloon to make Ulster return | accessdate=10 February 2015 | year=2015}} and made four appearances. ===Coaching career=== Faloon's coaching career began with [City of Armagh RFC](/source/City_of_Armagh_RFC) in 2015, initially as forwards coach, before becoming head coach in 2017,[https://ulster.rugby/content/faloon-to-lead-armaghs-new-coaching-team "Faloon to lead Armagh's new Coaching Team"], Ulster Rugby, 13 May 2017 leading them to three [Ulster Senior Cup](/source/Ulster_Senior_Cup_(rugby_union)) titles. He also joined the coaching team of [the Royal School, Armagh](/source/the_Royal_School%2C_Armagh), leading them to the [Ulster Schools' Cup](/source/Ulster_Schools'_Cup) final in 2020. In 2021 he joined the staff of the Ulster academy as Elite Performance Development Officer with responsibility for coaching forwards.[https://www.hugerugby.news/urc/ulster-rugby-appoint-new-academy-manager-with-faloon-also-set-to-make-a-return/ "Ulster Rugby appoint new Academy Manager with Faloon also set to make a return"], Huge Rugby, 21 May 2021 He was named defence coach of the [Ireland under-20 team](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) for the [2022 under-20 Six Nations](/source/2020_Six_Nations_Under_20s_Championship).Adam McKendry, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/former-ulster-flanker-willie-faloon-named-defence-coach-with-ireland-under-20s-ahead-of-six-nations/41177337.html "Former Ulster flanker Willie Faloon named defence coach with Ireland Under-20s ahead of Six Nations"], ''Belfast Telegraph'', 23 December 2021 he was head coach of the Ireland under-20s for the [2024 World Championship](/source/2024_World_Rugby_U20_Championship).[https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/05/13/ireland-u20s-coaching-team-confirmed-for-world-rugby-u20-championship/ "Ireland U-20 Coaching Team Confirmed For World Rugby U-20 Championship"], Irish Rugby, 13 May 2024 He became interim defence coach for [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) in February 2025 following the departure of [Jonny Bell](/source/Jonny_Bell_(rugby_union)),[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cdd9n8e9ye1o "Defence coach Bell departs Ulster by mutual consent"], BBC Sport, 4 February 2025 and was appointed defence and contact skills coach for the following season.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cm297xln38po "Ulster to add Faloon and Sexton to coaching ticket"], BBC Sport, 12 February 2025 ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Faloon, Willie}} Category:Ballynahinch RFC players Category:Connacht Rugby players Category:Living people Category:1986 births Category:Ulster Rugby non-playing staff Category:Ulster Rugby players Category:People educated at The Royal School, Armagh Category:Rugby union players from County Armagh --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Willie Faloon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Faloon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Faloon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.