John Cooney (rugby union)

John Cooney (born 1 May 1990) is an Irish rugby union player. He primarily plays as a scrum-half. Cooney currently plays for Irish provincial side Ulster in the Pro14, having joined the side from Connacht in 2017. He is the first player to play over 20 games for three different Irish provinces
Club career.
Leinster.
Cooney made his senior debut for Leinster on 2 September 2011, when he started against Ospreys in Swansea during the opening game of the 2011–12 Pro12. Cooney continued to make appearances for Leinster in the league, playing four more times, though each of these appearances came from the bench. Most of Cooney's appearances came while Leinster's front-line players were away at the 2011 World Cup, though he also scored his first try for the team later in the season in a win over Benetton Treviso. Cooney made his European debut for the side in the final of the 2011–12 Heineken Cup, coming on as a replacement scrum-half in Leinster's 42–14 win over Irish rivals Ulster and winning a medal in the process.
In the following season, Cooney continued to feature for Leinster in the league making a total of 13 appearances in the 2012–13 Pro12, scoring try against Scarlets on 23 February 2013. Nine of these appearances came as a replacement. In Europe, Cooney did not feature in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup as Leinster were knocked out in the pool stages. He did, however, come on as a replacement in three of the team's games in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup, including the final against Stade Français, earning himself another European medal in the process.
Cooney did not feature as regularly for Leinster in the 2013–14 season as he had the year before. He made his first appearance in the 2013–14 Pro12 against Cardiff Blues as a replacement, and went on to make a further four appearances in the league, all of these coming as starts. He scored a try against Zebre on 9 February 2014. In the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, Cooney made one appearance for the side, being used as a replacement against Northampton Saints in the pool stages.
Connacht.
It was announced in June 2014 that Cooney would be spending the 2014–15 season on loan at another Irish province, with both him and Leinster teammate Quinn Roux joining Connacht on loan. While Roux would return to Leinster in January 2015, Cooney agreed a deal to play with Connacht until the end of the season.
Ulster.
Cooney joined Ulster ahead of the 2017-18 season, in effect replacing Ruan Pienaar. Cooney earned his third straight Pro14 dream team place when he was named to the 2019–20 Pro14 team. He would make his fourth straight Pro14 Dream Team when he was included in the 2020–21 team.
International.
Cooney represented Ireland four times at U-18s level and played eleven times for the Irish U-20s squad. Cooney also represented Emerging Ireland in the 2013 Tbilisi Cup. He came on as a replacement for Michael Heaney in the opening game, a win over , and started the two remaining games, a defeat to South Africa President's XV and a victory over .