Unlucky 13 no deterrent for focused McFadden

A QUICK study of Leinster centre Fergus McFadden’s rugby CV reveals the extraordinary statistic that he has played more often for Ireland than Leinster.

The 23-year-old McFadden has 18 caps with the Heineken Cup champions, half of them earned this season. However, his international appearances make more impressive reading – eight caps for Ireland A, nine at U21 level, seven at U19’s and another single appearance for the Ireland Universities, making a total of 25 games in the green of Ireland.

And while McFadden was playing second fiddle to Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy in 2009 with Leinster, he was very much involved at national level, having helped inspire Ireland to a sensational Churchill Cup victory over England Saxons in June.