Robert Baloucoune
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Robert Baloucoune, born August 19th, 1997, an Irish rugby union player, carving his path on the wing for Ulster in both the United Rugby Championship and the European Champions Cup, and representing his country, Ireland.
His journey began in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, a son of Senegal. Young Robert honed his skills at Portora Royal School, later Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, turning out for Enniskillen RFC in the Ulster Towns Cup, a team that reached the 2017 final, though ultimately falling to Ballynahinch 2nds.
The year 2018 marked a significant step, as he was selected for Ireland's 7s squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens. There, they clinched the Challenge Trophy with a decisive 24-14 victory over Australia, securing a ninth-place finish overall. He was also instrumental in the squad that triumphed in the 2018 Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series, a historic first for Ireland. These stellar performances for his country earned him a coveted spot in Ulster's academy midway through the 2017-18 season.
His senior career took flight with Ulster on October 26th, 2018, in a commanding 36-18 win against the Welsh side Dragons in the Pro14. The Champions Cup stage beckoned in round 5 of the 2018-19 tournament, where he debuted against French giants Racing 92, marking the occasion with a try in Ulster's thrilling 26-22 victory on January 12th, 2019. The 2018-19 season saw him rack up 14 appearances and an impressive six tries, leading to a development contract ahead of the 2019-20 season.
A setback struck in August 2020 with a hamstring avulsion injury that sidelined him until February 2021. Yet, resilience shone through as he signed a two-year contract extension in January 2021. The 2021-22 season was a breakout year, with 13 appearances for Ulster and a remarkable nine tries, including a spectacular hat-trick against Toulouse in the Champions Cup. His outstanding form earned him a nomination for Ulster's men's player of the year award.
On the international front, he was called up as a development player by Andy Farrell, training with the Ireland squad in preparation for the 2020 Six Nations Championship. June 2021 saw him elevated to the senior Ireland squad for the Summer tests. He made his debut against the USA on July 10th, 2021, playing the full 80 minutes and crossing the try line in the 17th minute.
Though injury ruled him out of the 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand, his commitment remained. He was selected for the Emerging Ireland squad for the Toyota Challenge in South Africa in September 2022. His first Six Nations game, a triumphant encounter against Italy on February 14th, 2026, saw him score a try and earn the coveted Player of the Match award.
Robert Baloucoune (born 19 August 1997) is an Irish rugby union player who plays on the wing for United Rugby Championship and European Champions Cup side Ulster, and internationally for Ireland.
== Early career ==
Baloucoune was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland; his father is from Senegal. Baloucoune attended Portora Royal School (later Enniskillen Royal Grammar School) and represented Enniskillen RFC in the Ulster Towns Cup, being part of the team that lost the 2017 final to Ballynahinch 2nds.
He was selected by Ireland 7s for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, where they won the Challenge Trophy by beating Australia 24–14 and finished ninth overall. He was also part of the squad that won the 2018 Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series, Ireland's first Europe Grand Prix title. His performances for Ireland resulted in him earning a place in Ulster's academy part-way through the 2017–18 season.
== Senior career ==
He made his senior debut for Ulster in their 36–18 win against Welsh side Dragons on 26 October 2018, in round 7 of the Pro14. He made his Champions Cup debut in round 5 of the 2018–19 tournament, starting against French side Racing 92 and scoring a try in Ulster's 26–22 win on 12 January 2019. He made 14 appearances and scored six tries in the 2018–19 season, and signed a development contract ahead of the 2019–20 season.
He sustained a hamstring avulsion injury in training in August 2020, which kept him out until February 2021. In the meantime, he signed a two-year contract extension in January 2021. In the 2021–22 season he made 13 appearances for Ulster and scored nine tries, including a hat-trick against Toulouse in the Champions Cup, and was nominated for Ulster's men's player of the year award.
== International career ==
He was called up as a development player by Andy Farrell, training with the Ireland squad before the 2020 Six Nations Championship.
In June 2021 he was called up to the senior Ireland squad for the Summer tests. He made his debut against the USA on 10 July 2021, playing 80 minutes and scoring a try in the 17th minute.
He was unavailable for 2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand with injury, but was selected for the Emerging Ireland squad for the Toyota Challenge in South Africa in September 2022.
He played his first Six Nations game against Italy on 14 February 2026, scoring a try and winning the Player of the Match award.
== References ==
== External links ==
Ulster Rugby profile
United Rugby Championship profile
Robert Baloucoune at European Professional Club Rugby
Ireland profile
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