Ceri Sweeney

Ceri Sweeney

Date of birth	January 21, 1980 (1980-01-21) (age 31)
Place of birth	Glyncoch, Wales
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half / inside centre
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
	Glyncoch RFC Pontypridd RFC
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2004–2007 2007-	Newport GD Cardiff Blues	86	(570)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2003–2007	Wales	35	(88)

Ceri Sweeney (born 21 January 1980 in Glyncoch) is a rugby union footballer who plays at fly-half for Cardiff Blues and Wales.

Club career

In 1998, Sweeney joined Pontypridd RFC from Glyncoch RFC.

In 2003, with the introduction of regional rugby in Wales, Sweeney joined the Celtic Warriors. When the club was liquidated in the Summer of 2004 he signed for the Newport Gwent Dragons.

In the summer of 2008, after 4 seasons with the Newport Gwent Dragons Sweeney signed for the Cardiff Blues. Sweeney was told upon joining the Blues that he was signed to be used as an outside-half (his preferred position) as opposed to inside centre. This meant that Sweeney would be competing with Nicky Robinson for the number 10 jersey. He scored a try seconds after coming on in the EDF Energy Cup final against Gloucester at Twickenham on 18 April 2009.

International career

In 2003, Sweeney made his debut for Wales against England in the Six Nations Championship.

After playing well during the six nations, Sweeney was selected in the Wales squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He was on the bench for the final pool game against New Zealand and came on just after half-time to make a big impact. His hand-off on Carlos Spencer saw him break straight through the defensive line with Colin Charvis in support. After passing to Charvis, who passed back to him, he was finally brought down by Doug Howlett just 1m short of the line. The ball was quickly passed out to Shane Williams on the left wing who finished the move by scoring a try.

Whilst playing against South Africa in 2004, his team-mate Alix Popham was knocked unconscious whilst tackling. Sweeney noticed Popham was unconscious and acted quickly to prevent Popham from swallowing his own tongue.

In 2007 Sweeney was selected in the Wales squad for the 2007 World Cup.

References

External links

• Newport Gwent Dragons profile
• Wales profile
• WRC profile
• scrum.com player statistics

Persondata
Name	Sweeney, Ceri
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	21 January 1980
Place of birth	Glyncoch, Wales
Date of death
Place of death