Josh van der Flier: Biography, Religion, Wife & Career

If you’ve watched Ireland’s back row in recent years, you’ve seen Josh van der Flier—a flanker who plays with quiet intensity. But behind the tackles and turnovers, his story goes deeper than rugby stats.

Born: 25 April 1993 ·
Height: 1.85 m ·
Weight: 100 kg ·
Position: Flanker ·
Club: Leinster ·
National team: Ireland

The snapshot above covers the essentials. Below, a closer look at the facts that define his biography.

The data shows a well-rounded athlete with academic credentials and a private personal life—two sides that rarely make headlines.

Is Josh van der Flier a Protestant?

No public record confirms a specific Protestant denomination, but van der Flier has repeatedly spoken about his Christian faith. In a 2022 interview with The42 (Irish sports news outlet), he said faith “doesn’t come naturally to me to discuss publicly” and that he wears a cross on his wrist tape as a reminder that God is there. He prays before every game.

A profile from the British & Irish Lions (official team site) describes religion as “an important part of the van der Flier family story.” His brother Johan works for a Christian group that runs children’s camps and missionary work. His parents pray regularly. Yet neither source pins down a denomination—no mention of Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, or any Protestant branch.

“I don’t think it’s for everyone, but it’s important to my family and to me.” – Josh van der Flier, speaking to British & Irish Lions

Van der Flier also noted he and his wife come from “different faith backgrounds” and that he feels “comfortable in both traditions.” That suggests a cross-denominational marriage, but again no explicit answer on his own affiliation.

Bottom line: The label “Protestant” is unconfirmed. Van der Flier identifies as Christian without specifying a church. His faith is private but deeply held.

The pattern: van der Flier treats faith as a personal anchor, not a public stance.

Who is Josh van der Flier married to?

Josh van der Flier married Sophie De Patoul in August 2022. The wedding was a private ceremony; few details about De Patoul have been made public. According to The42, she and van der Flier share a strong faith and pray together before games. Van der Flier’s mother also joins in prayer.

• Spouse name: Sophie De Patoul (Wikipedia)
• Wedding date: August 2022 (Wikipedia)
• Children: Not publicly reported
• Profession: Not publicly disclosed

The couple keeps their relationship largely out of the spotlight—consistent with van der Flier’s overall approach to privacy. No social media posts or interviews from De Patoul are publicly available.

The implication: privacy is a deliberate career strategy, not just personal preference.

Is Archie van der Flier related to Josh van der Flier?

Archie van der Flier is a younger rugby player who shares the same surname and plays for Wanderers FC in the All-Ireland League. While the exact family link is not publicly confirmed by any verified source, the shared surname and Irish rugby connection strongly suggest they are related—most likely cousins. Neither Josh nor Archie has publicly clarified the relationship.

• Archie van der Flier: Plays in the amateur All-Ireland League for Wanderers
• Known family: Josh’s brother Johan works in Christian ministry; sister Julie played cricket for Ireland (British & Irish Lions)
• Unclear: Whether Archie is a cousin, nephew, or more distant relation

Without official confirmation from either player, the relationship remains speculative. The most plausible inference is a cousinship, given age proximity and same surname.

Education and career milestones

Van der Flier attended Wesley College in south Dublin, a school known for its sporting pedigree—it has produced Olympians and international rugby players. In a profile by the British & Irish Lions (official team site), it was noted he “did not come from the kind of school system typically associated with producing Ireland internationals.” He was even considered too small early on, as reported by RugbyPass (rugby media outlet).

After school he earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Dublin Business School in 2020 (Wikipedia). He made his Leinster senior debut in October 2014 against Zebre.

“He didn’t come from a traditional rugby school, and he was told he was too small. He worked his way up through sheer determination.” – RugbyPass

Key career achievements include being named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year nominee in 2023 and winning the Champions Cup with Leinster in 2018.

The pattern is clear: van der Flier forged an elite career from a non-traditional path—an underdog story that still shapes his reputation.