.jpg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Thomas Coolican | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1988-08-26)August 26, 1988 (age 36) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cleveland,Ohio, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Coolican (born 26 August 1988) is a former Australian-Americanrugby union player. He played professionally for theSan Francisco Rush in 2016. He previously played in Australia forSydney University in theShute Shield andSydney Stars in theNational Rugby Championship.[1][2]
Born inCleveland,Ohio, Coolican grew up in Australia where he began his rugby career. At an early age he played with the Lindfield Rugby Club while being educated atSaint Ignatius' College inRiverview, New South Wales. While at Saint Ignatius, he earned his first XV honors which led to Coolican being selected for New South Wales at Schoolboy level. After completing high school, he went on to representSydney University first Colts team in 2008. In2009, Coolican was part of the Sydney University team that came second toGordon in the JR Henderson Shield Grand Final, losing 6–3.[3] However, in 2010 he joinedEastern Suburbs, where again Coolican found himself finishing second in the JR Henderson Shield Grand Final, losing 12–3 toRandwick.[4]
In 2012, Tom was involved with theNew South Wales Waratahs set-up for the2012 Pacific Rugby Cup. He earned two caps for the Waratahs "A" side facingTonga "A", winning 27–11, andSamoa "A" losing 25–5. Though Coolican did not play atSuper Rugby level, he was involved for most of the season, training at the same standard as the rest of the players in the squad.
In 2013, Coolican left Australia for the United States after he received an invitation to return to America to play with the acclaimedNew York Athletic Club (NYAC). As club rugby was not fully professional in the United States, Coolican simultaneously played for the NYAC while continuing his legal education at theSt. John's University School of Law inNew York City, studying a Masters of Sports Law.[5]
In late 2013, Coolican left the United States to play forRichmond inEngland. He played just six times for the club in his debut season,2013–14 National League 1, helping the team to an improved position of seventh from the previous season.
In March 2014, Coolican received a call-up to theUnited States national team for the two-leggedAmericas qualification play-offs againstUruguay.[6] He earned his first cap in the first leg inMontevideo, coming on forPhil Thiel at the 74th minute.[7] The match finished as a draw, 27–27. In the return fixture, Coolican again replaced Thiel at the 74th minute, to play a small part in the 32–13 win to qualify for the2015 Rugby World Cup.[8]
He played a prominent part in the 2014 Pacific Nations cup, culminating in making a match winning charge down vs Canada in Sacramento.
In mid 2014, Coolican returned to Australia to play forEastern Suburbs in the senior side for theShute Shield. In addition to this, he was also selected for theSydney Stars team for the inaugural season of Australia'sNational Rugby Championship.[9]
Coolican returned to the United States and signed for theSan Francisco Rush for the 2016 season.