Eoin Griffin

Eoin Griffin (Irish name: Eoghan Ó Griofa ; born 18 September 1990) is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He prmarily plays as a centre, and can play both outside inside channels. Griffin plays for London Irish, having joined the team from Irish provincial side Connacht. Griffin has represented his country at under-age level and was part of the Ireland under-20 team which captured the Six Nations title in 2009.

Griffin was born in Barna, Galway. When he was younger, he also played soccer with Salthill Devon and Gaelic football with Salthill-Knocknacarra, before settling on rugby, which he played with Corinthians. His first taste of sporting success came when Corinthians team achieved an Under 14 League/Cup double, which the team hadn't achieved since Johnny O'Connor had played for the club.

Griffin was educated at Colaiste Iognáid, where he lost the Connacht Schools Junior Cup to Garbally College after having overcome the Bish in the semi-final. Shortly after this defeat, the young Griffin suffered the first setback of his rapidly progressing career, tearing his cruciate ligament. Overcoming this he went on to become a two-time winner of the Connacht Schools Senior Cup.

Connacht

Griffin first played professionally for the Irish provincial team Connacht, based in his hometown of Galway. Griffin was first called into the senior squad against Olympus Rugby Madrid. Griffin scored a try on his first competitive start for the province in their defeat to the Llanelli Scarlets on 25 April 2010. He played seven times in 2010–11 Celtic League, scoring one try, and made an appearance in the 2010–11 European Challenge Cup against Bayonne. Griffin was also man of the match in Connacht's 26–22 win over Samoa on 9 November 2010.

In March 2011, it was announced that Griffin had signed a two-year senior deal with the province and would be part of the first team squad for the coming season. Connacht played in the Heineken Cup for the first time in the 2011–12 competition, with Griffin playing in three of the province's six games. He started in the away match with Harlequins, the home match with Toulouse and the away match against Gloucester. He also made 11 starts and four substitute appearances in that year's league.

In the following season, Griffin continued to be a regular part of the first team, making 16 appearances in the 2012–13 league, starting all but one of these games. Connacht featured in the top European competition again that season, with Griffin playing four times in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup.

London Irish

After three senior seasons with Connacht Rugby, in February 2014 it was announced that Griffin had signed a two-year contract to join London Irish that summer.

On the back of his performances in both successful Connacht Schools Cup. campaigns he was capped for Ireland Youths and the Ireland under-20s. He is yet to represent Ireland at senior or 'A' level. However, in the summer of 2013 Griffin was a member of the Emerging Ireland squad that participated in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup held in Georgia. He played in three games, starting two of them.