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Ireland Joe McCarthy

Joe McCarthy

Joe McCarthy
Ireland
Ireland
Joe McCarthy

Joe McCarthy is a lock who represents Leinster and Ireland. He toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2025.

Age

25

Position

Lock

Height

198cm

Weight

119kg

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Joe McCarthy Stats

Stats compared to other Locks

Joe McCarthy Stats

Stats compared to other Locks
Joe McCarthy
Joe McCarthy

Key Stats

Season Performance

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Season Performance

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Joe McCarthy

Match Stats

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Joe McCarthy Performance Analysis

Six Nations 2026

Joe McCarthy featured in 3 matches during the 2026 Six Nations, representing Ireland. Results included 3 wins and 0 losses.

Ireland finished 2nd in the 2026 Six Nations, having won 4 and lost 1 of their 5 matches.

Joe McCarthy played 250 minutes across the Six Nations 2026. In attack he made 60m with ball in hand, beating 2 defenders and scoring 0 tries. Defensively he completed 50 tackles at a rate of 16.67 per game.

In the Six Nations 2026, Joe McCarthy completed 17 passes at an accuracy of 94%, contributing 1 try assist and making 37 touches.

Rugby World Cup 2023

Joe McCarthy featured in 2 matches during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, representing Ireland. Results included 1 win and 1 loss.

Joe McCarthy represented Ireland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where Ireland were eliminated at the Quarter Final stage.

Joe McCarthy played 101 minutes across the Rugby World Cup 2023. In attack he made 37m with ball in hand, beating 5 defenders and scoring 1 try. Defensively he completed 8 tackles at a rate of 4 per game.

In the Rugby World Cup 2023, Joe McCarthy completed 11 passes at an accuracy of 100%, contributing 0 try assists and making 31 touches.

  • He ranked in the top 5% of Lock's for defenders beaten in the Rugby World Cup.
  • Investec Champions Cup 2025/2026

    Joe McCarthy featured in 6 matches during the 2025/2026 Investec Champions Cup, representing Leinster Rugby. Results included 5 wins and 1 loss.

    Joe McCarthy represented Leinster Rugby in the 2025/2026 Investec Champions Cup season, who finished 8th in the regular season table.

    Joe McCarthy played 554 minutes across the Investec Champions Cup 2025/2026, carrying the ball further than any other Lock in the process with 124m. He beat 15 defenders and scored 1 try, completing 43 tackles at a rate of 7.17 per game.

    In the Investec Champions Cup 2025/2026, Joe McCarthy ranked in the top 5% of Lock's for passing, completing 40 passes at an accuracy of 98%, with 0 try assists and 94 touches.

    He beat more defenders than any other Lock's in the Investec Champions Cup.

    He carried the ball further than any other Lock's in the Investec Champions Cup.

  • He ranked in the top 5% of Lock for passes completed in the Investec Champions Cup.
  • United Rugby Championship 2025/2026

    Joe McCarthy featured in 8 matches during the 2025/2026 United Rugby Championship, representing Leinster Rugby on their way to being crowned champions. Results included 8 wins and 0 losses.

    Joe McCarthy represented Leinster Rugby in the 2025/2026 United Rugby Championship, where Leinster Rugby were crowned champions.

    Joe McCarthy played 519 minutes across the United Rugby Championship 2025/2026. In attack he made 144m with ball in hand, beating 14 defenders and scoring 3 tries. Defensively he completed 87 tackles at a rate of 10.88 per game.

    In the United Rugby Championship 2025/2026, Joe McCarthy completed 42 passes at an accuracy of 98%, contributing 1 try assist and making 94 touches.

    His tackle completion rate of 94% was among the highest of any Lock's in the United Rugby Championship.

  • He ranked in the top 5% of Lock's for defenders beaten in the United Rugby Championship.
  • Joe McCarthy Bio

    Joe McCarthy was born on 26 March 2001 in Manhattan, New York. He then moved to Ireland at the age of three. 

    McCarthy signed for the Leinster Rugby Academy for the 2021-22 season and made his first-team debut in Round 11 of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship. He’s since made almost 50 appearances for the Irish province and he notably helped Leinster win the United Rugby Championship title in the 2024-25 season. 

    Thanks to his outstanding form for Leinster, Joe McCarthy made his Ireland debut in 2022. He’d previously played for the Ireland Wolfhounds and represented his county at U20 level. 

    Since, he’s become a regular for Ireland and has played for his country in both the Six Nations Championship and at the Rugby World Cup

    Due to the strength of his performances for both Leinster and Ireland, Joe McCarthy was called into the British and Irish Lions squad for the 2025 tour of Australia. He made his test debut for the team in the first test, which the Lions won 27-19.  

    Still young and with his best years firmly ahead of him, we can’t wait to see what Joe McCarthy achieves in what is set to be both a long and illustrious career. 

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