Tadhg Leader Biography

Born: Galway, Ireland

Metrics: Height: 6’02”. Weight: 205 lbs.

College: International (Ireland); Lindenwood University (USA).

Professional Career: Connacht Rugby (Pro 12 Rugby); New England Free Jacks (Major League Rugby, 2019); Aviators (The Spring League 2021); Panthers Wroclaw (European League of Football 2021)

Position: Kicker.

Biography:

Former Connacht Rugby player Tadhg Leader was born in Galway, Ireland. At the age of 15 he and his brother Darragh headed out to kick some Rugby balls at their local pitch on Christmas Day. His dad, a former Galwegians RFC Rugby player made a bet with them that they could not kick the ball over the bars from the halfway line. Both Tadhg and his brother Darragh won €50 each.

Tadhg went on to play Rugby Professionally for Connacht and Darragh now lives in USA where he coaches at Clemson University Tigers. Tadhg suffered a number of injuries during his last few years at Connacht and after playing in Italy he ended up studying in USA and playing for both New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby and making his Test debut for USA Eagles Rugby Union National Team.

Tadhg was signed up to play another year of Rugby Union in 2021 when the kicker started kicking American Footballs for fun. People took notice and said he should try out for American Football teams and so he went off to San Diego where he was kicking alongside Super Bowl-winning athletes. Unsure of his own ability he asked John Carney, who has 23 years of experience kicking Footballs and Carney said he could mix it with the NFL players.

Before long Leader found himself playing for the Aviators in The Spring League in USA. The Aviatiors, one of four teams based in Indianapolis, a COVID-19 Pod and one of two Pods in the 8-team league in 2021 finished with an 0-6 record in 2021. On May 7 versus Alphas Tadhg Leader scored the first points of his American Football career kicking a Field Goal to make the score Aviators 3 Alphas 7 at Halftime.

After spending Spring in Indianapolis with the Aviators Tadhg signed for Panthers Wroclaw in the European League of Football, making his debut on August 1 in a 31-33 loss at Cologne Centurions. Tadhg scored a 35-yard Field Goal in that game to make the score 16-7 [References: 7-8] On August 22 he kicked a 52-yard Field Goal, his personal highlight in a 30-24 victory at Hamburg Sea Devils [References: 9-10]. The Hamburg game was his fourth of the ELF season [References: 11]. Panthers Wroclaw finished the season with three straight wins to finish on 6-4 and reached the Playoffs where they lost to Hamburg Sea Devils 27-30.

Note: Video Clip of Tadhg’s 52-yard FG versus Hamburg Sea Devils can be seen by clicking the link in Reference Number 9 below the Standing Section:

The Spring League 2021

The Spring League 2021	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	PCt
TSL North (Indianapolis)
Linemen (C)	6	5	1	0	177	117	.833
Conquerors	6	4	2	0	164	118	.667
Alphas	6	3	3	0	118	137	.500
Aviators	6	0	6	0	53	140	.000
TSL South (Houston)
Jousters (C)	6	4	2	0	121	62	.667
Generals	6	4	2	0	131	104	.667
Blues	6	3	3	0	78	107	.500
Sea Lions	6	1	5	0	90	141	.250
TSL 2021 Totals	48	24	24	0	932	926	.500

THE SPRING LEAGUE 2021	Home Team	Score	Road Team	Score
Date	Mega Bowl Championship		Rice Stadium, Houston, TX
19/06/2021	Linemen	26	Jousters	23
TSL 2021 Playoff Totals		26		23

European League of Football Autumn 2021

[References: 12-13]

Tadhg Leader’s 2021 Panthers Wrocław Stats

FIELD GOALS	1-19 yds	20-29 yds	30-39 yds	40-49 yds	50+ yds
Tadhg Leader	0-0	2-2	2-4	3-5	1-1
Panthers Wrocław 2021 Total	0-0	3-3	3-6	4-6	1-1

PUNTING	NO	YDS	AVG	LG	I20	50+	Blkd
Tadhg Leader	11	400	36.4	54	5	2	0
Panthers Wrocław 2021 Total	36	1206	33.5	54	6	4	1

DEFENSE STATISTICS – TACKLES	TT	UT	A	TFL	Yds
Tadhg Leader	1	1	0	0	0
Panthers Wrocław	649	331	318	73	241

References

References (WEBSITES)

[1] The 42 (2021) The former Connacht man now trying to make it as an NFL kicker [Internet] Available from: https://www.the42.ie/tadhg-leader-connacht-nfl-5425042-May2021/ [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[2] The Liberty (2021) Leader and Mayo: Meet the two Irishmen with the NFL in their sights [Internet] Available from: https://www.theliberty.ie/2021/12/01/leader-and-mayo-meet-the-two-irishmen-with-the-nfl-in-their-sights/?fbclid=IwAR1g3KnLD1lmr5GsnTTOrYiBJpVYPuyZzhjcgWKz54lKAc1ychvTjBiYwqA [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[3] The Spring League (2021) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://thespringleague.com/?page_id=5732 [Accessed 20 June 2021]

[4] The Spring League (2021) Aviators [Internet] Available from: https://www.thespringleague.com/?page_id=5809 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[5] The Spring League (2021) Post, May 7 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/posts/306326787531251 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[6] Rugby Players Ireland (2021) The Journey Continues for Tadhg Leader [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[7] Tadhg Leader Facebook (2021) Post, July 30, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/tadhg.leader/posts/4428767077162803 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[8] Tadhg Leader Facebook (2021) Post, August 3, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/tadhg.leader/posts/4440139309358913 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[9] European League of Football (2021) Video, August 26, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=saved&v=4160723400714711 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[10] Tadhg Leader Facebook (2021) Post, August 26, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/tadhg.leader/posts/4511404508899059 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[11] Tadhg Leader Facebook (2021) Post, September 1, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/tadhg.leader/posts/4530606193645557 [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[12] European League of Football (2021) Stats [Internet] Available from: https://europeanleague.football/stats [Accessed 10 November 2021]

[13] European League of Football (2021) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://europeanleague.football/schedule [Accessed 11 July 2021]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Todd Zboyan and Decy Maher.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Published: 3 December 2021. Last Updated: 4 July 2024

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021-2024

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