Debut – Feb 2002, v Scotland
Club – St Mary’s College
Position – Flanker
Date of birth – 21/06/76
Height – 6ft 1in
Weight – 15st 3lb
Caps – 10
Tries – 2
Born in Dublin, Gleeson’s family moved to Australia and he played for Australia Under-19s in 1995 and the Under-21s the following year. He captained the Australia 21s in 1997 and joined New South Wales in 1998, before moving to Ireland to take up a contract with Leinster, where his inspirational play helped them to the Celtic League title and the
quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup. In November 2001, Gleeson won his first A cap (v New Zealand) at Ravenhill and he marked his debut for the senior side (v Wales, Feb 2002) with a try when he came on as a second-half replacement. Gleeson, 26, is quickly earning a reputation as one of the best openside flankers in the game, and he is keeping the likes of the supremely talented David Wallace on the sidelines.
Brian O’Driscoll
Anthony Foley
