David Wallace (rugby union)
David Peter Wallace (born 8 July 1976) is an Irish retired rugby union player, who played for Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He normally played as an openside flanker, but could also play blindside flanker and number 8. Early life Wallace grew up in Limerick on Ennis Road, and later lived in Cork. He was educated at Crescent College Munster Wallace made his Munster debut against Connacht in August 1997. He made his European debut against Harlequins in September 1997 in the 1997–98 Heineken Cup. Wallace started for Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup Final. He scored his side's only try but opponents Northampton Saints eventually won 9–8. Wallace again started for Munster during the 2002 Heineken Cup Final against Leicester Tigers. Once again, Munster lost narrowly, being defeated 15–9. Injury ruled Wallace out of much of the 2002–03 Celtic League, meaning he missed Munster's victory against Neath that won the league. His first taste of silverware with Munster came against Scarlets in the Celtic Cup Final in May 2005. Wallace scored the fourth try in Munster's win over Sale in the 2005–06 Heineken Cup to take the Irish province into a home quarter-final against USA Perpignan. After defeating Perpignan in the quarter final, Munster beat arch-rivals Leinster 30–6 in the semi-final to reach their third Heineken Cup final. At the Millennium Stadium, Munster beat Biarritz Olympique 23–19 to win the 2006 Heineken Cup Final. This was Munster's, and Wallace's, first Heineken Cup Final victory. Munster, and Wallace, again secured Heineken Cup success when they beat Toulouse 16–13 in the 2008 Heineken Cup Final. Wallace was part of the Munster team that won the 2008–09 Magners League. In February 2011, Wallace extended his contract with Munster until the end of the 2011–12 season. Wallace became the sixth player to reach 200 caps for Munster against Leinster during the 2011 Magners League Grand Final, a game in which he won the Man of the Match award. Having returned to full training after the knee injury that ruled him out of the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Six Nations, Wallace was named in the Munster squad to travel to Aironi on 7 March 2012. He made his comeback during the game, playing the last 20 minutes. Wallace continued his comeback by playing the first 40 minutes of Munster A's friendly against a Munster Development team on 16 March. He was added to Munster's 2011–12 Heineken Cup squad in March 2012. Wallace made his first appearance in the 2011–12 Heineken Cup season in the quarter-final against Ulster on 8 April 2012. This turned out to be Wallace's last game for Munster, as a recurrence of the knee injury suffered in August 2011 forced him to retire in May 2012. Ireland Wallace made his Ireland debut against Argentina on 3 June 2000. On 10 June 2000, Wallace was part of the Ireland team that recorded their largest win by beating the United States 83–3. Three lengthy injury-enforced absences hindered Wallace's international