Gavin Coombes

Gavin Coombes (born 11 December 1997) is an Irish rugby union player for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Munster. He plays primarily as a number 8, but can also play flanker or lock. Coombes represents Young Munster in the All-Ireland League.
Early life.
Born in Skibbereen, Cork, Coombes first began playing rugby for Skibbereen RFC. He attended Bandon Grammar School and captained the senior rugby team to the quarter-finals of the 2016 Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup. Coombes went on to represent Munster at under-18 and under-19 levels, winning inter-provincial championships with both, as well as also representing Ireland at under-18 and under-19 levels.
Munster.
Coombes was part of the Munster A team that won the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, starting at blindside flanker in the 29–28 victory against Jersey Reds in the final on 21 April 2017.
Coombes started at number 8 in both of Munster's pre-season friendlies in August 2018, before being named in his first Pro14 squad. He made his competitive debut for Munster on 1 September 2018, coming off the bench in their opening 2018–19 Pro14 fixture against Cheetahs in Thomond Park, a game which Munster won 38–0. Coombes signed a two-year contract with Munster in October 2018, a deal that saw him join the senior team from the 2019–20 season.
He scored his first tries for Munster in their 29–10 win against Welsh side Scarlets during round 13 of the 2019–20 Pro14 on 29 February 2020. Coombes scored a hat-trick of tries and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 38–22 win against Ospreys in round 6 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 15 November 2020. He made his Champions Cup debut for the province in their opening fixture of the 2020–21 competition against English side Harlequins on 13 December 2020, scoring a try in Munster's 21–7 home win.
Coombes signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in March 2021, a deal that will see him remain with the province until at least June 2023. He started for Munster in their 16–6 defeat against Leinster in the 2021 Pro14 Grand Final on 27 March 2021, and was the standout performer for the province on an otherwise disappointing occasion. One week later, Coombes scored two tries in Munster's 40–33 home defeat against Toulouse in the last 16 of the 2020–21 Champions Cup, in another strong individual performance for the province.
Ireland.
Coombes represented Ireland U20s during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. After Caelan Doris was ruled out of Ireland's opening 2021 Six Nations away to Wales due to injury, Coombes received his first senior international call up to the Ireland squad as Doris' replacement.