OpinionAustralia
Leinster Lock · Ireland
Joe McCarthy
- Position
- Lock
- Country
- Ireland
- Age
- 25
- Born
- 26 Mar 2001
- Height
- 1.98 m
- Weight
- not available
- Caps
- 26
- Test tries · pts
- not available
Season by season
— means no data from the provider| Season | App | St | T | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 URC · Leinster | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 Nations Championship · Ireland | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025–26 URC · Leinster | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Minutes are not recorded in the match feed for these matches.
Last five matches
Match by match
5 tracked matches| Attack | Total |
|---|---|
| Running metres | 72 |
| Carries | 31 |
| Clean breaks | 1 |
| Offloads | 1 |
| Try assists | 0 |
| Passes | 27 |
| Defence | Total |
|---|---|
| Tackles made | 71 |
| Tackles missed | 6 |
| Tackle success | 92% |
United Rugby Championship 3 apps · 0 tries
| Match | Car | M | Tkl | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v Cardiff Rugby 10 Oct 2026 · W 29–5 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| v Bulls 19 Jun 2026 · W 36–7 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 0 |
| v Stormers 6 Jun 2026 · W 20–11 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Totals 3 apps · 0 tries | 16 | 26 | 34 | 0 |
Nations Championship 2 apps · 1 try
| Match | Car | M | Tkl | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v New Zealand 18 Jul 2026 · L 21–40 | 12 | 42 | 23 | 1 |
| v Australia 4 Jul 2026 · W 33–31 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 0 |
| Totals 2 apps · 1 try | 15 | 46 | 37 | 1 |
WeTalkRugby Rating
About Joe McCarthy
Joe McCarthy is the most physically imposing forward Ireland have produced in years, and he arrived in Test rugby with the attitude already fully formed.
He broke through in the 2024 Six Nations and immediately did the thing young locks are usually told to wait for: he made himself the physical reference point of the pack. The carrying is direct and heavy, the clean-out is deliberately unpleasant, and he defends in the front line rather than tidying up behind it.
The technical side is still developing. His lineout work has improved sharply but is not yet at the level of the second rows he is competing with, and the discipline that comes with playing on the edge is a work in progress.
That is the honest assessment, and it is also why he is interesting. Ireland’s second row has been an area of accumulated experience rather than raw force for most of the last decade.
If the detail catches up with the physicality, Ireland have a lock who solves a problem they have had for years.
Latest on Leinster
More news
Frequently asked questions
What position does Joe McCarthy play?
Joe McCarthy plays as a lock for Leinster Rugby.
Which team does Joe McCarthy play for?
Joe McCarthy currently plays for Leinster Rugby.
How old is Joe McCarthy?
Joe McCarthy is 25 years old (born 26 March 2001).
How tall is Joe McCarthy?
Joe McCarthy stands 1.98m tall.
What nationality is Joe McCarthy?
Joe McCarthy is from Ireland.
How many tries has Joe McCarthy scored?
Joe McCarthy has scored 1 tries and 5 points across 5 tracked matches.