Eric Miller
] (born 23 September 1975) is a former Irish
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
and
Gaelic football player. As a rugby player Miller played for, among others
Old Wesley
Old Wesley Rugby Football Club was founded in 1891 from the past pupils of Wesley College, Dublin. Since then it has become one of Leinster's most famous clubs. It plays in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club won the Leinster Seni ...
,
Leicester Tigers,
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...
,
Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...
, the
Barbarians
A barbarian (or savage) is someone who is perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive. The designation is usually applied as a generalization based on a popular stereotype; barbarians can be members of any nation judged by some to be les ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
and the
British and Irish Lions
The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...
. After retiring as a rugby player, Miller switched football codes and went on to play Gaelic football for the
Dublin county team.
Early years
As a schoolboy and youth, Miller played several sports. He was educated at
Wesley College where he played both
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
and
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...
.
At the same time he played
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
for
Leicester Celtic, a team whose former players also included
Damian Duff
Damien Anthony Duff (born 2 March 1979) is an Irish professional football manager and former player who played predominantly as a winger. He has been the manager of League of Ireland club Shelbourne F.C. since November 2021.
He began his prof ...
.
He also played
Gaelic football for
Ballyboden St Enda's and, together with
Brian Stynes, he helped them win a
Dublin Under 21 Championship title in 1995.
Miller eventually opted to concentrate on rugby union and spent the 1995–96 season playing for
Old Wesley
Old Wesley Rugby Football Club was founded in 1891 from the past pupils of Wesley College, Dublin. Since then it has become one of Leinster's most famous clubs. It plays in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club won the Leinster Seni ...
. He also represented
Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...
for the first time at senior level.
[ Interview at www.independent.co.uk](_blank)
/ref>[ www.ercrugby.com](_blank)
/ref>
/ref>
Leicester Tigers
In 1996 Miller joined Leicester Tigers and went on to make 12 appearances for them in the Heineken Cup. His impressive performances for the Tigers saw him make his debut for Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
and then represent the British and Irish Lions
The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...
. While playing for the Tigers, he also attended both Loughborough University, where he studied for a degree in physical education
Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning by using a play and movement explorat ...
at Sheffield Hallam University.
Leinster
Miller first played for Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...
during the 1995–96 season while still attached to Old Wesley
Old Wesley Rugby Football Club was founded in 1891 from the past pupils of Wesley College, Dublin. Since then it has become one of Leinster's most famous clubs. It plays in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club won the Leinster Seni ...
. After his spell with Leicester Tigers he returned to Ireland and initially linked up with Terenure College RFC
Terenure College RFC was founded on 5 November 1940. It is a senior rugby club in Dublin, Ireland, playing in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League.
History
Terenure College RFC was founded on 5 November 1940. With a great love for the game an ...
and Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...
. In 2000, he returned to Leinster and went on to make 148 appearances for the province in the Celtic League
The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organisation, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places part ...
and the Heineken Cup. Back at Leinster he helped them win the 2001–02 Celtic League title.
Rugby international
Ireland
As well as winning senior caps, Miller also represented Ireland at schoolboy, U21 and A levels. In 1996, he was a prominent member of the Ireland U21 team that won a Triple Crown
Triple Crown may refer to:
Sports Horse racing
* Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
* Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)
** Triple Crown Trophy
** Triple Crown Productions
* Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
* Tri ...
for the first time. Between 1997 and 2005, Miller made 48 appearances and scored 30 points, including 6 tries, for Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. He made his international debut in a friendly against Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
on 4 January 1997. He went on to play for Ireland at both the 1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...
and 2003 World Cups. He scored two of six his tries in one game against Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup. Originally planned to be hosted by India, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the Indian Rugby Union and Rugby World Cup ...
. He made his final appearance for Ireland in a friendly against Japan on 19 June 2005.[ www.magnersleague.com](_blank)
/ref>
British and Irish Lions
After playing just four senior internationals for Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, Miller was selected by the British and Irish Lions
The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...
for their 1997 tour of South Africa. He played in five games during the tour, lining up against the Border Bulldogs
The Border Bulldogs is a South African professional rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions. They are governed by the Border Rugby Union (BRU) and are based in East London.
History
The Border Ru ...
, Northern Transvaal
Northern may refer to the following:
Geography
* North, a point in direction
* Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe
* Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States
* Northern Province, Sri Lanka
* Northern Range, a ...
, and the Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs (formerly the Orange Free State), currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by th ...
. A bout of flu saw him miss the first test against South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
but he recovered in time to feature in the second test on 28 June 1997. However injury saw him miss the third test. At 21 he was youngest member of the touring party.
Barbarians
Miller has also played for the Barbarians
A barbarian (or savage) is someone who is perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive. The designation is usually applied as a generalization based on a popular stereotype; barbarians can be members of any nation judged by some to be les ...
several times. In May 2004 he was included in their squad for games against England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
and Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. On 25 May 2005 he featured in a 38–7 defeat against Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
at Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium, commonly referred to as Pittodrie, is an all-seater stadium in Aberdeen, Scotland. Used primarily for football, it has been the home ground of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) club Aberdeen F.C. since they wer ...
.
Return to Gaelic football
After retiring as a rugby player in January 2006, Miller started playing Gaelic football again. In August 2006 he came on as a substitute for Ballyboden St Enda's in a Dublin AFL Division 1
The Dublin Adult Football League Division 1 is the top Gaelic football league in Co. Dublin. The 2013 champions are St Brigids who beat St Sylvesters in the final in Balgriffin.
Roll of honour
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dublin Afl Division ...
game against Thomas Davis. On 5 December 2006, he played his first senior game for the Dublin county team against Louth Louth may refer to:
Australia
*Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia
* Louth, New South Wales, a town
* Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia
**Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality
Canada
* Louth, Ontario
Ireland
* Cou ...
. He has since ended his short return to GAA.
Since finishing with Gaelic football, Miller set up his own personal training company called the real golf solution.
Coaching
Miller has also had a successful coaching career. In September 2006 he undertook a coaching position in Wesley College, Dublin
Wesley College is an independent co-educational secondary school for day and boarding students in Ballinteer, Dublin, Ireland. Wesley College is under the control of a Board of Governors, appointed each year by the Methodist Church in Ireland.
...
until 2009. He also coached for Old Wesley
Old Wesley Rugby Football Club was founded in 1891 from the past pupils of Wesley College, Dublin. Since then it has become one of Leinster's most famous clubs. It plays in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club won the Leinster Seni ...
as well as Saint Gerard's School.
In 2011, he was appointed Head Coach Blackrock College Rugby Club Dublin. From 2009 to 2012, Miller also served as Head and assistant coach to the Leinster U18 Club (youths) team and helped the team win three interprovincial championships in a row during his tenure.
In August 2012 Miller was appointed Head Coach of CYM Rugby Club in Terenure Dublin, following in the footsteps of club luminaries like Ray Fagan. In May 2013 Miller was appointed Head Coach of Seapoint Rugby Club, a Division 2A side in South Dublin playing in the All-Ireland League.
From August 2014 until May 2016, Miller served as the Director of Rugby for Trinity College Kandy
"Look to the End"
, mottoes =
, founder = John Ireland Jones
, established =
, type = Independent Private
, affiliation = Church of Ceylon, Anglican
, grade ...
, Sri Lanka.
Beginning in 2016, Miller coached the men's senior firsts team in the Wicklow-based Arklow Rugby Club, and the all boys private school Catholic University School
Catholic University School ''(C.U.S.)'' is a private (voluntary) secondary school for boys in Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1867 by Bartholomew Woodlock as a preparatory school for the Catholic University of Ireland, the predece ...
on Lower Leeson Street in Dublin, until 2019 .
Honours
''Rugby union''
Wesley College
*Leinster Schools Junior Cup
The Leinster Schools Junior Challenge Cup is an under-age rugby union competition for schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU.
Background
The Leinster Schools Junior Cup competition is confined to students under the age of 16. The ...
**''Runner-up'': 1989–90 : 1
Leinster
*Celtic League
The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organisation, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places part ...
**''Winners'': 2000–01 : 1
''Gaelic football''
Ballyboden St Enda's
* Dublin Under 21 Football Championship
**''Winners'': 1995: 1
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Eric
1975 births
Living people
Alumni of Loughborough University
Alumni of Sheffield Hallam University
Irish Methodists
People educated at Wesley College, Dublin
Rugby union number eights
Irish rugby union coaches
Irish rugby union players
Ireland international rugby union players
British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Ireland
Barbarian F.C. players
Old Wesley players
Leicester Tigers players
Terenure College RFC players
Leinster Rugby players
Ulster Rugby players
Dublin inter-county Gaelic footballers
Ballyboden St Enda's Gaelic footballers
Gaelic footballers who switched code
Loughborough Students RUFC players
Irish expatriate rugby union players
Expatriate rugby union players in England
Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
Leicester Celtic A.F.C. players
Ireland international rugby sevens players
Association footballers not categorized by position
Republic of Ireland association footballers