James McNabney (born 28 February 2003) is an Irish rugby union player who plays in the back row for Ulster.
Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, McNabney attended Cambridge House Grammar School, where he excelled at mounted games, representing Northern Ireland at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as well as rugby. As a rugby player he represented Ulster at under-18, under-19 under-20Ciaran Donaghy, "Ulster's James McNabney says decision to pick rugby over equestrian has paid off", News Letter, 4 October 2024 and 'A' level.Paul Cahill, "Match report: Ulster 'A' 8 Leinster 'A' 12, Leinster Rugby, 13 November 2021, archived 13 November 2021 He joined the Ulster academy in 2022.Gareth Fullerton, "Ulster Rugby announce Academy squad including five new arrivals", Belfast Live, 20 July 2022 At club level, he played for City of Armagh in the All-Ireland League.James McNabney at FinalWhistle.ie
He represented Ireland at under-20 level, winning four caps in the Grand Slam-winning 2022 under-20 Six Nations campaign, two in the 2022 u20 Summer Series, five in the 2023 under-20 Six Nations, and three in the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.
He made three appearances for Ulster 2023–24 including one in the Champions Cup, and signed a development contract in 2024."McNabney, Wilson and McLoughlin to continue their development at Ulster", Ulster Rugby, 3 April 2024 He was called up as a training panellist for Ireland's 2025 Six Nations Championship squad,"Ulster's McNabney handed 'huge opportunity' - Ferris", BBC Sport, 16 January 2025 and was upgraded to a senior contract in 2025."Ulster Rugby confirm Senior Men’s squad for 2025/26", Ulster Rugby, 22 May 2025 He made 17 appearances for Ulster in the 2024-25 season, and was again named as a training panellist for Ireland's 2025 summer tests, but was ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury."McNabney set for extended spell out with ACL injury", BBC Sport, 19 June 2025
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