Kieran Dannatt Plays in Rugby Union Final

5th June 2008 5:16pm - Return to press releases

East Riding College student Kieran Dannatt achieved his boyhood dream of playing at Twickenham recently.
Kieran, 19, from Brough, turned out for Yorkshire against Gloucestershire in the final of the rugby union under-20s National County Championships.

The match ? which Gloucestershire won 26-17, despite a try from Kieran - showcased the best young talent to scouts from the major rugby clubs.
Also watching from the stands was Kieran?s proud dad and rugby league prop forward Andy, who played for Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers either side of a spell at St Helens.

Kieran said: ?I scored from 22 yards out and it felt unbelievable. The first time I caught the ball my peripheral vision was unreal, with 90,000 seats around me.
?Once the first contact was made, though, it was just another game which I put 100 per cent into.
?We conceded an early try which set the tone for them really. They had the luck of the bounce on the day but all complaints aside it was an awesome experience.?

He added: ?Dad really enjoys seeing me play and he likes to come down to support the team.
?I think him and my mum have always wanted me to play rugby league but they both support me in whatever I do.?

Kieran, who plays at blind side flanker, is in the first year of a BTEC National Diploma in Sport at East Riding College?s Beverley campus.
He has played for the Yorkshire representative team since earning a place in the under-15s squad only six months after switching from rugby league.
To reach the final, the team beat Northumberland, Durham and Lancashire in the northern rounds, and then the North Midlands in the national semi-final.
Kieran will go to Gateshead College in September for the second year of his course and aims to go to university to qualify as a physiotherapist.
His ambition is to work as a physio at a top sports club.

Paul Smith, sports lecturer at East Riding College, said: ?All the staff are very pleased Kieran fulfilling his potential by continually progressing his rugby career and representing his college, county and family at Twickenham is a great achievement.?