James Culhane (rugby union)

James Culhane (born 22 October 2002) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a back-row for Ireland national under-20 rugby union team and Leinster Rugby.

Early life
Culhane started playing rugby for De La Salle Palmerston and also played for University College Dublin R.F.C. where he studies Engineering. He also represented Dublin for two years at association football in the Kennedy Cup.

Career
He joined the Leinster academy ahead of the 2022-23 season. On 28 January, 2023 he was included in the Leinster Rugby match day squad in the United Rugby Championship against Cardiff Rugby and made his first team debut off the bench. On May 7th 2024 he signed his first senior contract with Leinster Rugby.

International career
He was a member of the 2022 Ireland U-20 Grand Slam winning side and was named player of the tournament, and won the man of the match awards against Wales and Italy. He also represented Emerging Ireland in late 2022.

Style of play
His form during the Ireland U-20 grand slam winning team led to the Irish Times describing his play by saying his “carrying has been outstanding; the lines of running and footwork through contact have bamboozled physically bigger men.

Personal life
Culhane is the son of Paul Culhane, a former captain of Ireland U-21s and Irish Universities. In April 2022 Culhane recovered from acute kidney failure and had to spend weeks in hospital, he said it came “from over-training and dehydration”.