Player

Ryan Baird

Back-row - Leinster - St Michael's College - Trinity

Profile

Ryan Baird is one of the clearest examples of a schools-to-Test-rugby pathway in the Leinster system. He began his secondary school rugby at The High School before moving to St Michael's College, where his athletic profile made him stand out in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup. By the time he left school, he was already moving towards the Leinster Academy.

Baird joined the Leinster Academy ahead of the 2018/19 season and made his senior Leinster debut as a teenager in April 2019. His combination of height, speed and lineout athleticism has made him valuable as both a lock and a blindside flanker, and that dual role has followed him from Leinster into the Ireland set-up.

His Ireland U20 involvement came in 2019, the year Ireland won a first U20 Six Nations Grand Slam since 2007. From there he moved quickly into senior rugby, making his Ireland debut in 2021 and becoming part of the wider Farrell-era forward group.

The current profile is still live. Baird signed a new Leinster contract in 2025 and remains one of the province's important hybrid forwards. His pathway connects The High School, St Michael's College, Dublin University/Trinity, Leinster Academy, Leinster senior rugby, Ireland U20 and senior Ireland.

Linked Public Pages

• St Michael's College
• Trinity

Related Matches

Public Honours And Pathway Tags

• U20