| Date of birth | 16 May 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Clonmel, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 112 kg (17.6 st; 247 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | CBS High School Clonmel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Limerick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dave Foley (born 16 May 1988) is an Irish rugby union player for French side Pau in the Top 14 and European Rugby Challenge Cup. He plays as a lock.
Foley made his Munster debut against Connacht in April 2010.[1] His first start for Munster was against Benetton Treviso in February 2011.[2] A dislocated shoulder sustained in a Pro12 game against Newport Gwent Dragons on 3 March 2012 ruled Foley out for 'a while'.[3] He signed a one-year contract extension with Munster in March 2012.[4] In January 2013, Foley signed a further contract extension with Munster.[5] Foley was ruled out for 3 months with a wrist injury in January 2015.[6] He returned form the injury on 5 September 2015.[7] On 16 March 2017, it was confirmed that Foley required a second wrist surgery.[8]
On 21 March 2017, it was announced that Foley would joining French Top 14 side Pau at the beginning of the 2017–18 season. In making the move, Foley joined ex-Munster teammates Paddy Butler and Sean Dougall and former Munster backs coach Simon Mannix at the club.[9]
Foley was named in the Emerging Ireland squad to take part in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup on 19 May 2013.[10] He started against Georgia in Emerging Ireland's first game of the tournament on 7 June 2013.[11] Foley also started in Emerging Ireland' second game, a 19–8 defeat to South Africa President's XV on 11 June 2013.[12] He started Emerging Ireland 42–33 final game victory against Uruguay on 16 June 2013.[13] Foley was again selected in the Emerging Ireland squad when it was announced on 26 May 2014.[14] He started against Russia in their first 2014 IRB Nations Cup match on 13 June 2014.[15] Foley came off the bench in their second game against Uruguay on 18 June 2014.[16] He started in the 31–10 win Romania on 22 June 2014, a win that secured the 2014 IRB Nations Cup for Emerging Ireland.[17]
Foley was named in the Ireland squad for the 2014 Guinness Series on 21 October 2014.[18] Foley made his senior debut for Ireland on 16 November 2014, starting in the 49–7 win against Georgia and earning the Man-of-the-Match award.[19] He also came on in the 26–23 win against Australia on 22 November 2014.[20] On 22 February 2016, Foley was named in Ireland's squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship fixture against England. He was called-up as an injury replacement for Mike McCarthy.[21]