Ulster Bank is proud to work with Alan Quinlan as the Rugby Ambassador throughout the RBS 6 Nations campaign. Alan Quinlan will be donating his time to support the Ulster Bank sponsorship of the RBS 6 Nations.
Alan Quinlan is a strong supporter of Ulster Bank RugbyForce as he knows the importance of local clubs and how they can build a rugby player's success. Alan began his rugby career with Clanwilliam FC where he captained the Irish Youth Team against Scotland in 1993. He normally plays as a blindside flanker, but has also played openside, number eight and second row for Munster.
Alan moved from Clanwilliam to join Shannon U20s in 1994. He began playing for Munster in 1996 and captained the youths team before becoming a regular in the first team. In May 2006 he made a comeback from a cruciate ligament injury earlier in the season to win both the AIB League Division 1 title with Shannon and the Heineken Cup with Munster after a late appearance from the bench in the Heineken Cup Final win over Biarritz in Cardiff. He captained the side from Number Eight in Munster's upset victory over Ulster in Ravenhill in the 2007 Magner's League.
He was voted Man of the Match as Munster beat Toulouse 16-13 on 24 May 2008 to win the Heineken Cup for a second time. He was part of the Squad that won the 2008 - 2009 Magners League.
In total he holds five league medals with Shannon, as well as two Heineken Cup medals and a Celtic League Medal with Munster. Alan won his 201st cap against Leinster, equalling Anthony Foley's club record for caps, on 2 October 2010. He became Munster's most capped player ever on 16 October 2010, against RC Toulon in the Heineken Cup.
Alan represented Ireland 'A' between 1998 and 2001 and made his senior debut for the Irish national team in October 1999 as a replacement in a Test against Romania. He played his first RBS 6 Nations match against Italy in 2001. He was a part of Ireland's squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and scored two tries in the tournament before dislocating his shoulder scoring a vital try against Argentina in the pool stages, which ended his involvement. He was named in Ireland's 2007 Rugby World Cup squad but did not make any appearances. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan was widely criticised afterwards for not using his bench.
Quinlan took his caps to a total of 27 by playing in the Autumn Internationals of 2008 against Canada and the All Blacks. In 2009, he was selected to play for the British and Irish Lions but controversially didn't travel due to suspension.
More recently, Alan has become a regular contributor on RTE's Against the Head as well as co-commentating on Ireland RBS 6 Nations matches for BBC Northern Ireland.
Favourite Club Moment - Shannon 15 Garryowen 9
It's hard to believe it's nearly thirteen years ago but for me one of favourite club memories is the AIL Final between ourselves and Garryowen at Lansdowne Road in 1998. We were going for four in a row and the fact that the final was against near neighbours and fierce rivals Garryowen only added to the pressure we were under. Looking back there was definitely something really special about close to 20,000 rugby fans from Limerick and beyond converging on the 'Old Lansdowne Road' for what was a fiercely contested final. It was not a game for the faint-hearted and as the score-line suggests it wasn't exactly a feast of running rugby.
At the final whistle, I'll never forget the feeling of relief, pure and utter relief that we hadn't buckled under the pressure. It was strange given the fact that winning is normally associated with sheer joy and celebration. I was watching America's Game recently in the run up to the Super Bowl. It's a one hour documentary that is put together each year on the eventual Super Bowl Champions. In 1996 the Green Bay Packers were victorious and their Quarterback Brett Favre was describing how he was almost disappointed with how he didn't enjoy himself more in the moment immediately after the ultimate victory. Looking back now, despite how I felt at the time, it's one of most treasured memories in the game and I can assure you we enjoyed it for at least a week afterwards.
