Everything you need to know about Iain Henderson, the Irish rugby player

Everything you need to know about Iain Henderson, the Irish rugby player

Claudia Kogi
March 3, 2024 at 2:59 PM

Meet Iain Henderson, an Irish rugby player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Ulster and the Ireland national team. Interestingly, he has been selected for two British & Irish Lions tours and is a very talented player in the rugby arena.

Iain Henderson during an Ireland Rugby media conference
Iain Henderson during an Ireland Rugby media conference on 5 October 2023 at Le Domaine des Vanneaux Hotel in Paris, France. Photo: Harry Murphy (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Henderson began his career at a young age while schooling at the Belfast Royal Academy, where he led his team to victory in the 2010 Ulster Schools' Cup. Since then, it became crystal clear that he was more than skilled in the sport. What else is known about the Irish-based rugby player?

Iain Henderson's profile summary

Full name

William Iain Henderson

Nickname(s)

Llama, Herr Flick

Date of birth

21 February 1992

Age

32 years as of March 2024

Place of birth

Craigavon, Northern Ireland

Nationality

Irish

Ethnicity

White

Height

6 feet 6 inches or 199 centimetres

Weight

262 pounds or 119 kilograms

Professional

Professional rugby player

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Suzanne

Children

2

Net worth

$1 million and $5 million

Salary

$500,000

Social media

Instagram, X (Twitter)

Iain Henderson's biography

Iain Henderson (age 32 years as of March 2024) was born on 21 February 1992 in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. Not much is known about his childhood and upbringing, except that he attended Belfast Royal Academy and afterward got admitted to Queen's University Belfast after being offered a place at the Ulster Rugby Academy.

Iain Henderson's all-rugby stats

The professional rugby player started his career while still in school. He then made his professional and senior debut for the Ulster team in April 2012. Afterward, he signed his first professional contract in October 2012 and represented Ireland at U19 and U20 levels.

Iain Henderson during an Ireland Rugby media conference at Stade Omnisports des Fauvettes in Domont, France
Top 5 facts about Iain Henderson. Photo: Harry Murphy/Getty Images (Modified by author)
Source: Original

Thanks to his incredible performances, he was named Young Player of the Year at the 2013 Ulster Rugby Awards and Personality of the Year in the 2021 Awards. As a matter of fact, he was part of the Ulster squad that made the 2013 Pro12 and the 2020 Pro14 Grand Finals.

His skills were beginning to become impressive, and sooner or later, he was named Ulster's team captain, replacing a fellow player, Rory Best. While in Ireland, he won the Six Nations Championship in 2014 and 2015, the Grand Slam in 2018, and the Triple Crown in 2022.

He then captained Ireland for the first time in 2021 and got selected for the British and Irish for their 2017 tour to New Zealand and 2021 tour to South Africa. When Iain Henderson's contract with IRFU was due to expire after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, some speculations arose that he could move abroad.

Awards and achievements

The professional payer has had a pretty impressive career stint, winning several awards and honours. Some of the awards include,

  • 4× Six Nations Championship (2014, 2015, 2018, 2023)
  • 2× Grand Slam (2018, 2023)
  • 3× Triple Crown (2018, 2022, 2023)
Iain Henderson during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Scotland
Iain Henderson during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Scotland on 7 October 2023 at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo: Brendan Moran
Source: Getty Images

He has repeatedly proven to be a skilful captain, constantly advising and watering his playing squad at any given time. He once said in an interview with The Irish Times,

There has been a significant focus on the group working hard and buying into what we are doing, a substantial focus on us playing the way we want to play, and a significant focus on rugby aside from the mental and conditioning side of things. That is not to say we have not worked hard.
I would say there have been sessions in this preseason that have been the toughest in my career. However, in a much more rugby-specific capacity rather than an all-out gym or fitness session. That is probably how it differs.

Iain Henderson's net worth and salary

According to various online sources, such as Soccer Souls, the professional rugby player has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 million and $5 million. Following his role in his team, he allegedly receives around $500,000 as his annual salary.

Trivia

While some fans thought South Africa was the only country with the best rugby players, you probably still need to meet Ireland's most pronounced captain, Iain Henderson, who has been nothing but impeccable on those rugby pitches. Here are some facts about him that you should know of.

Is Iain Henderson married?

The professional rugby player, Iain Henderson, poses with his wife and kids
The professional rugby player, Iain Henderson, poses with his wife and kids. Photo: @hendy_102 (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

The Irish national married his long-term girlfriend, Suzanne Flanagan, in July 2017 at Magheragall Presbyterian Church in Lisburn. Not much is known about his wife, except she is his big supporter and fan. The dynamic coupe is blessed with two kids.

In an interview with Joe.ie, the professional athlete admitted,

My wife is incredibly supportive of me in terms of my rugby, but she is not incredibly supportive of rugby, which is excellent for me! I go back home, and rugby is a whole different world for her. She and the kids are like a breath of fresh air when I go home. It is great to be able to come in the door and switch off like that.

Does Iain Henderson have a nickname?

He has a nickname, Llama, following a lock of hair, which sometimes blocks his eyesight. Reportedly, his father often dubbed him Herr Flick, after the Allo Allo! character.

What is Iain Henderson's nationality?

The professional rugby player is an Irish national of a white ethnic background.

What is Iain Henderson's height in feet?

Iain Henderson during an Ireland rugby captain's run
Iain during an Ireland rugby captain's run, on 6 October 2023 at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo: Harry Murphy
Source: Getty Images

The Irish rugby player Henderson stands at 6 feet 6 inches or 199 centimetres and weighs 262 pounds or 119 kilograms. He has dark brown hair and eyes.

Social media

The renowned professional athlete is on Instagram with over 24k followers and 16.7k followers of X(Twitter) as of March 2024. He often uploads photos and short videos flaunting his wife and kids.

Final word

The Irish-based professional athlete Iain Henderson is a well-decorated rugby player who has recorded impressive career stats since his debut. Moreover, he is among the few players who have managed to maintain a clean profile since rising to stardom.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
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Rugby World Cup