Brian O'Driscoll
Encyclopedia
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union
player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team
and captained Leinster Rugby
until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions
for their 2005 tour
of New Zealand. Registered at University College Dublin RFC, he plays at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster
. O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations
Championships.
O'Driscoll has 123 Test caps, 117 for Ireland
(80 as captain), and 6 for the British and Irish Lions
. During this time he has scored 45 tries for Ireland and 1 try for the Lions in 2001, making him the highest try scorer of all time in Irish Rugby. He is 8th-highest try scorer in rugby union history, and the highest scoring centre of all time. O'Driscoll holds the Six Nations
record for most tries scored with 25. He has scored the most Heineken Cup
tries (29) for an Irishman. He is widely regarded as one of the best centres of all time.
on Dublin's Northside
to Frank and Geraldine O'Driscoll, both general practitioner
doctors. He also has two older sisters Julie and Susan. As a child he played Gaelic football
before moving to rugby. He went to Primary School in Clontarf, attending Belgrove Junior Boys and Senior Boys Schools. For his secondary education he attended Blackrock College where he played in the Senior Cup team. He was capped
three times for Ireland Schools in 1996. In 1998, O'Driscoll played for the Ireland U-19 side, which also included his senior teammates Donncha O'Callaghan
and Paddy Wallace
, which won the Under 19 Rugby World Championship
. After leaving school, he attended UCD
on a scholarship. At UCD, under the respected director John McClean, he first made the under-20 side, before being promoted to the top team near the end of his first year. After two years, O'Driscoll graduated from UCD with a diploma in sports management. He made his Ireland under-21 debut in February 1999, and eventually gained four caps.
and backs coach Alan Gaffney
he became an explosive force in the Leinster backline. In 2001, Leinster won the inaugural Celtic League beating Munster
in Lansdowne Road
. In 2003, Leinster were heavy favourites for that year's Heineken Cup
but were beaten by Perpignan
in the semi finals.
Following the semi final defeat, Gaffney left for the head coaching job in Munster
whilst Williams became the Scottish national coach. In 2004, Leinster failed to make the knock out stages of the competition with new head coach Gary Ella and following the season Ella would leave the post. Declan Kidney
, former Munster
coach came into the job in 2005. However, a heavy home quarter-final defeat to Leicester Tigers
was followed by the departure of Kidney back to Munster.
Leinster appointed Michael Cheika
in the summer of 2005 and despite rumours of O'Driscoll moving to France, O'Driscoll agreed to another year in Ireland. That year, O'Driscoll returning from a shoulder injury suffered on the Lions tour, would assume the captaincy for the season. Under backs coach David Knox and the movement of Argentine international Felipe Contepomi
to fly half, the Leinster back line became one of the most potent in Europe, complete with many notable international players. With centre partner Gordon D'Arcy
, wings Denis Hickie
and Shane Horgan
along with full back Girvan Dempsey
, the backline would put in strong performances in the Magners League and in Europe. O'Driscoll excelled in wins over Bath Rugby
and Toulouse
away from home. These victories would set up an Heineken Cup
semi-final in Lansdowne Road against Munster, but defeat against the eventual champions Munster would deny O'Driscoll and his team a final berth. Leinster were also denied a Magners League title, with David Humphreys
of Ulster
slotting an injury time drop goal to give victory to Ulster in their final game of the season.
2007 and 2008 would once again prove difficult for Leinster in Europe. In 2007, Wasps beat them in the quarter-finals. In 2008, Leinster lost in the group stages. Indifferent Heineken Cup form, however, was not replicated in the league. In 2007, Leinster would once again come to the final hurdle of the league only to be denied by the Ospreys and Cardiff
. In 2008, Leinster won the title ahead of Munster, marking O'Driscoll's second honour with the province, his first and only as captain.
The 2008–2009 season marked a shift in focus for O'Driscoll. Despite retaining the Irish captaincy under new coach Declan Kidney, he handed the honour of Leinster captain to Leo Cullen
. Leinster began with inconsistent league form and in Europe. O'Driscoll scored two tries in the defeat of English champions London Wasps
, but was followed by away defeats for Leinster to both London Wasps and Castres
. Despite these defeats, Leinster advanced to the quarter-finals to face Harlequins
in the Twickenham Stoop. When O'Driscoll was absent through injury in April 2009, Leinster relinquished their Magners League crown to Munster at Thomond Park
. Against Harlequins, Leinster scored a 6–5 victory, the game infamous for the bloodgate
incident.
The semi-final against rivals Munster in Croke Park
, a 82,206 sell out, a world record club attendance. O'Driscoll was awarded the man of the match award (which he later dedicated to the entire team) after an intercept try completed a convincing win for Leinster and sending O'Driscoll to his first final.
Leinster captured the Heineken Cup
against a team who had previously defeated them in the knockout stages, Leicester Tigers
on 23 May 2009. The 19–16 Heineken Cup victory included a drop goal from O'Driscoll who was suffering from a shoulder injury.
In the 2010–2011 season, O'Driscoll won his second Heineken Cup with Leinster. Having been injured in a Magners League game one week before the final, O'Driscoll was a major doubt, but he recovered sufficiently and was named in the starting XV. In the final
held at the Millennium Stadium
, Cardiff on 21 May 2011, Leinster came from behind to defeat Northampton
33–22.
(this was not a Six Nations match as Italy did not enter the competition until the following year), although he did not play. He won his first Test
cap at age 20 on 12 June 1999 in a 46–10 loss to Australia
in Brisbane
as part of the tour of Australia
. Since then, he has established himself as one of rugby's top outside centres. O'Driscoll played for Ireland before he played for the senior Leinster team. In 2000, O'Driscoll scored a Hat-trick
of tries in a Six Nations Championship
victory against France
in Paris
, propelling Ireland to their first win in Paris since 1972.
O'Driscoll's popularity in Ireland was expressed by supporters wearing T-shirts bearing the motto "In BOD We Trust" (a play on "In God We Trust
", the phrase that appears on all United States currency
and coinage
). In 2002, O'Driscoll starred in Irelands 18–9 win over Australia
, the first Irish victory over the Wallabies since 1979. In 2003, following the international retirement of long-time Ireland captain Keith Wood
, he was awarded the captaincy. In that year, O'Driscoll led Ireland to second place in the Six Nations Championship
. This was followed by Triple Crowns
in 2004 (Ireland's first crown since 1985), 2006 and 2007. In 2004, O'Driscoll captained Ireland to a 17–12 victory over South Africa
, the first Irish win over the Springboks since 1965.
In 2009, O'Driscoll was again selected as captain, leading Ireland to win the Triple Crown
, Six Nations Championship
and their first Grand Slam
in 61 years. He scored a try in every match except one, culminating in a 17–15 victory in Cardiff in which O'Driscoll again scored a try and was the RBS man of the match. On 27 March 2009, he was named as player of the 2009 Six Nations Championship
. O'Driscoll won a fans' online poll ahead of runner-up, Italy back-row Sergio Parisse
, and Ireland lock Paul O'Connell
who came third. In May 2009, he was named the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players' Player of the Year for the past season.
On 15 November 2009, in a 20–20 draw against Australia
at Croke Park
, O'Driscoll scored a last minute try. The next day, he was named as one of the seven nominations for the 2009 International Rugby Board player of the year
, but, to much criticism, he controversially missed out to Richie McCaw for this title by a solitary point.
O'Driscoll started for and captained Ireland for every match during the 2010 Six Nations Championship
. He picked up his 100th test cap for Ireland against Wales in the Millennium Stadium. He scored his 40th test try against New Zealand on 12 June 2010.
He started every match for Ireland in the 2010 Autumn Tests, and bested the Four/Five/Six Nations record for tries scored against England in March 2011.
O'Driscoll has played for Ireland in the last three World Cups
(13 caps, 6 tries).
He became Ireland's most capped player on 26 June 2010 against Australia, winning his 103rd cap.
In the 2011 Six Nations Championship
, O’Driscoll’s 47th minute try against England, took him past Ian Smith’s 78-year-old record of 24 tries to become the leading Championship try scorer of all time with 25 Tries. On that day, O'Driscoll also equaled John Smit
's International Captaincy caps of 75.
. On 11 April 2005, he was named captain of the team for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. Prior to that tour, he had been named captain of the Northern Hemisphere side for the IRB Rugby Aid Match
(a 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
fundraiser
) held at Twickenham
in March 2005, but was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury, but appeared pitch-side for the match.
O'Driscoll's playing contribution to the 2005 Lions ended in the opening minutes of the first Test against the All Blacks
in Christchurch
on 25 June 2005, when he was carried off the field on a stretcher with a shoulder injury
just after being spear-tackled in tandem by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga
and Keven Mealamu
after the ball had been cleared out of a ruck. He extended one arm to protect his head, and his shoulder was dislocated on impact.
The independent citing commissioner found that the New Zealand players had no case to answer, and The Lions management were criticised by New Zealanders for attempting to divert attention from the teams poor performance. However, four months later, and following new footage of the incident, the International Rugby Board
unequivocally condemned the spear tackle by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu, stating: "This footage wasn't available at the time and the IRB are unable to act retrospectively because the two sides had both signed a tour agreement whereby disciplinary matters had to be resolved within 12 hours of the match". The International Rugby Board's communications manager Greg Thomas stated "...that dangerous tackles like this have no part in the game". Although unable to play, O'Driscoll remained as non-playing captain on a losing tour and only underwent surgery on his return. He then released a DVD entitled Brian O'Driscoll's Lions Diary in which he described his tour experience and his opinion of the events that transpired.
On 21 April 2009, O'Driscoll was selected as part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions
tour to South Africa. On 1 June 2009, he was named as captain of the Lions for the game against the Golden Lions
taking place on 3 June, in place of the rested Paul O'Connell. This was the first time he has captained the Lions since the spear tackle incident in New Zealand in 2005. He was also named in the outside centre position for the Lions in their first test of the 2009 tour against South Africa, in which he made two assists as the Lions lost 26 – 21. He was forced to withdraw from the tour on 30 June before the third and final test due to a head injury and subsequent concussion he suffered in the second test.
appearance against South Africa on 10 December 2000. O'Driscoll made two more appearances for the Barbarians - 22 May 2004 against Scotland; and, 30 May 2004 against England. Against South Africa, O'Driscoll scored his only try as a part of the Barbarians team.
. In 2001, he lost out to his Irish
teammate Keith Wood
; in 2002, to Fabien Galthié
; and, in 2009, when widely regarded as favourite for the award, somewhat surprisingly to Richie McCaw
by a solitary point, with one judge who would otherwise have given O'Driscoll the award, citing a flawed voting system.
O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations
Championships.
In 2007, former England centre and captain Will Carling
published his list of the '50 Greatest Rugby players' in The Telegraph
, and ranked O'Driscoll the tenth greatest player of all time, stating; "As a balanced centre he has everything – pace, strength, great attacking skill and is as good in defence as attack. On the 2001 Lions tour, he showed his outstanding talent as the stand out back in the series. He has the ability to prise open defences that other players cannot even contemplate. With his poise, his change of speed and his closeness to the ground it is very hard to stop him. Ireland are half the side without him".
In summer 2008 O'Driscoll received the Dubliner of the Year Award from The Dubliner magazine.
In January 2010, O'Driscoll was voted World Rugby player of the decade (2000–2009) by the influential magazine Rugby World
.
in July 2010.
He has published one book, "A Year in the Centre" (2005), a memoir of a year as professional rugby player. A biography of O'Driscoll, called In BOD We Trust, by Marcus Stead was published in March 2008. A revised and extended version of Stead's book was published in August 2011, titled "Brian O'Driscoll: The Biography".
In February 2011, O'Driscoll and his wife were invited to the Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton, but only his wife attended, due to his club team's (Leinster
) preparation for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse
the day after the wedding.
On 18 May 2011, O'Driscoll attended a state dinner hosted by President Mary McAleese
to mark Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland
.
Correct as of 19 March 2011
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
and captained Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
for their 2005 tour
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
of New Zealand. Registered at University College Dublin RFC, he plays at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
. O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
Championships.
O'Driscoll has 123 Test caps, 117 for Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
(80 as captain), and 6 for the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. During this time he has scored 45 tries for Ireland and 1 try for the Lions in 2001, making him the highest try scorer of all time in Irish Rugby. He is 8th-highest try scorer in rugby union history, and the highest scoring centre of all time. O'Driscoll holds the Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
record for most tries scored with 25. He has scored the most Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
tries (29) for an Irishman. He is widely regarded as one of the best centres of all time.
Early life
O'Driscoll was born in ClontarfClontarf, Dublin
Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts...
on Dublin's Northside
Northside (Dublin)
The Northside is the area in County Dublin, Ireland bounded to the south by the River Liffey to the east by Dublin Bay, to the north and west by the boundaries of County Dublin.- Introduction :...
to Frank and Geraldine O'Driscoll, both general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
doctors. He also has two older sisters Julie and Susan. As a child he played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
before moving to rugby. He went to Primary School in Clontarf, attending Belgrove Junior Boys and Senior Boys Schools. For his secondary education he attended Blackrock College where he played in the Senior Cup team. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
three times for Ireland Schools in 1996. In 1998, O'Driscoll played for the Ireland U-19 side, which also included his senior teammates Donncha O'Callaghan
Donncha O'Callaghan
Donncha O'Callaghan is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays as a lock for Munster and Ireland.- Early career :He began his rugby education in Highfield Rugby Club, on the Model Farm Road in Cork. During the 1997/98 season he won a Schools Senior Cup with the Christian Brothers College, Cork,...
and Paddy Wallace
Paddy Wallace
Paddy Wallace is an Irish rugby union footballer from Belfast where he attended Rockport School and Campbell College. He plays for Ulster. He was a member of the Ireland U19 side that lifted the U19 World Cup in 1998...
, which won the Under 19 Rugby World Championship
Under 19 Rugby World Championship
The IRB under-19 Rugby World Cup was the premier tournament for male rugby union players under the age of 19 organised by the sports governing body the International Rugby Board annually from 2004 until 2007...
. After leaving school, he attended UCD
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
on a scholarship. At UCD, under the respected director John McClean, he first made the under-20 side, before being promoted to the top team near the end of his first year. After two years, O'Driscoll graduated from UCD with a diploma in sports management. He made his Ireland under-21 debut in February 1999, and eventually gained four caps.
Leinster
O'Driscoll made his debut for Leinster in 1999, and under head coach Matt WilliamsMatt Williams (rugby coach)
Matt Williams is an Australian rugby union coach from New South Wales.Williams, a teacher by profession, started in coaching at club level with Western Suburbs in Sydney, Australia in 1991...
and backs coach Alan Gaffney
Alan Gaffney
Alan Gaffney is an Australian-born rugby coach, currently an assistant with the NSW Waratahs in the Super Rugby tournament.He is a former player who played over 200 games with the Randwick Rugby Club Sydney, of which he was elected a life member in 1993....
he became an explosive force in the Leinster backline. In 2001, Leinster won the inaugural Celtic League beating Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
in Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
. In 2003, Leinster were heavy favourites for that year's Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
but were beaten by Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
in the semi finals.
Following the semi final defeat, Gaffney left for the head coaching job in Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
whilst Williams became the Scottish national coach. In 2004, Leinster failed to make the knock out stages of the competition with new head coach Gary Ella and following the season Ella would leave the post. Declan Kidney
Declan Kidney
Declan Kidney is an Irish rugby union coach.-Early life:Kidney played rugby for UCC and later for Dolphin RFC....
, former Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
coach came into the job in 2005. However, a heavy home quarter-final defeat to Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
was followed by the departure of Kidney back to Munster.
Leinster appointed Michael Cheika
Michael Cheika
Michael Cheika is a former Australian rugby union player and is a Heineken Cup winning coach and entrepreneur. He is the head coach of Stade Français since his appointment in 2010. He is of Lebanese origin -Other Clubs:...
in the summer of 2005 and despite rumours of O'Driscoll moving to France, O'Driscoll agreed to another year in Ireland. That year, O'Driscoll returning from a shoulder injury suffered on the Lions tour, would assume the captaincy for the season. Under backs coach David Knox and the movement of Argentine international Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...
to fly half, the Leinster back line became one of the most potent in Europe, complete with many notable international players. With centre partner Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon William D'Arcy is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He is registered to Lansdowne RFC and plays for provincial and RaboDirect Pro12 side Leinster.-Career:...
, wings Denis Hickie
Denis Hickie
Denis Anthony Hickie born 13 February 1976 in Dublin, Ireland is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet...
and Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...
along with full back Girvan Dempsey
Girvan Dempsey
Girvan Dempsey is a retired rugby union footballer who played at full back for Leinster and Ireland.- Rugby career :...
, the backline would put in strong performances in the Magners League and in Europe. O'Driscoll excelled in wins over Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
and Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
away from home. These victories would set up an Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
semi-final in Lansdowne Road against Munster, but defeat against the eventual champions Munster would deny O'Driscoll and his team a final berth. Leinster were also denied a Magners League title, with David Humphreys
David Humphreys (rugby union)
David Humphreys MBE is a retired rugby player. He played for 72 times for Ireland and for Ulster.-Life & Career:...
of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
slotting an injury time drop goal to give victory to Ulster in their final game of the season.
2007 and 2008 would once again prove difficult for Leinster in Europe. In 2007, Wasps beat them in the quarter-finals. In 2008, Leinster lost in the group stages. Indifferent Heineken Cup form, however, was not replicated in the league. In 2007, Leinster would once again come to the final hurdle of the league only to be denied by the Ospreys and Cardiff
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
. In 2008, Leinster won the title ahead of Munster, marking O'Driscoll's second honour with the province, his first and only as captain.
The 2008–2009 season marked a shift in focus for O'Driscoll. Despite retaining the Irish captaincy under new coach Declan Kidney, he handed the honour of Leinster captain to Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen (rugby player)
Leo Cullen is an Irish rugby union player who plays Lock for Irish club Leinster Rugby and Ireland. He was educated, firstly at Willow Park which is the junior school to Blackrock College where he attended secondary school...
. Leinster began with inconsistent league form and in Europe. O'Driscoll scored two tries in the defeat of English champions London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
, but was followed by away defeats for Leinster to both London Wasps and Castres
Castres
Castres is a commune, and arrondissement capital in the Tarn department and Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It lies in the former French province of Languedoc....
. Despite these defeats, Leinster advanced to the quarter-finals to face Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
in the Twickenham Stoop. When O'Driscoll was absent through injury in April 2009, Leinster relinquished their Magners League crown to Munster at Thomond Park
Thomond Park
Thomond Park is a stadium located in Limerick in the Irish province of Munster. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union and count Munster Rugby, Shannon RFC and UL Bohemian RFC as tenants. The capacity of the stadium is 26,500 following its large scale redevelopment in...
. Against Harlequins, Leinster scored a 6–5 victory, the game infamous for the bloodgate
Bloodgate
Bloodgate is the nickname for a rugby union scandal involving the English team Harlequins in their Heineken Cup match against the Irish side Leinster on 12 April 2009...
incident.
The semi-final against rivals Munster in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, a 82,206 sell out, a world record club attendance. O'Driscoll was awarded the man of the match award (which he later dedicated to the entire team) after an intercept try completed a convincing win for Leinster and sending O'Driscoll to his first final.
Leinster captured the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
against a team who had previously defeated them in the knockout stages, Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
on 23 May 2009. The 19–16 Heineken Cup victory included a drop goal from O'Driscoll who was suffering from a shoulder injury.
In the 2010–2011 season, O'Driscoll won his second Heineken Cup with Leinster. Having been injured in a Magners League game one week before the final, O'Driscoll was a major doubt, but he recovered sufficiently and was named in the starting XV. In the final
2011 Heineken Cup Final
The 2011 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 2010–11 Heineken Cup, the 16th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 21 May 2011 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The match was contested by Northampton Saints of England and Leinster of Ireland,...
held at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, Cardiff on 21 May 2011, Leinster came from behind to defeat Northampton
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
33–22.
Ireland
In 1999, O'Driscoll was selected for the senior squad and was on the bench for a match against ItalyItaly national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
(this was not a Six Nations match as Italy did not enter the competition until the following year), although he did not play. He won his first Test
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
cap at age 20 on 12 June 1999 in a 46–10 loss to Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
as part of the tour of Australia
1999 Ireland rugby union tour of Australia
1999 Ireland rugby union tour of Australia. The Ireland national rugby union team embarked on their third tour of Australia having also visited in 1979 and 1994. The tour saw Brian O'Driscoll make his full international in the first test against Australia. In 2001, O'Driscoll, together with...
. Since then, he has established himself as one of rugby's top outside centres. O'Driscoll played for Ireland before he played for the senior Leinster team. In 2000, O'Driscoll scored a Hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of tries in a Six Nations Championship
2000 Six Nations Championship
The 2000 Six Nations Championship was the first series of the Six Nations Championship, following the inclusion of Italy into the Five Nations championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-sixth series of the northern hemisphere...
victory against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, propelling Ireland to their first win in Paris since 1972.
O'Driscoll's popularity in Ireland was expressed by supporters wearing T-shirts bearing the motto "In BOD We Trust" (a play on "In God We Trust
In God We Trust
"In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the United States in 1956. It is also the motto of the U.S. state of Florida. The Legality of this motto has been questioned because of the United States Constitution forbidding the government to make any law respecting the establishment of a...
", the phrase that appears on all United States currency
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
and coinage
United States coinage
United States coinage was first minted by the new republic in 1792. New coins have been produced every year since then and they make up a valuable aspect of the United States currency system. Today circulating coins exist in denominations: $0.01, $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, $0.50, and $1.00. Also minted...
). In 2002, O'Driscoll starred in Irelands 18–9 win over Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the first Irish victory over the Wallabies since 1979. In 2003, following the international retirement of long-time Ireland captain Keith Wood
Keith Wood
Keith Gerard Mallinson Wood and educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, the Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster....
, he was awarded the captaincy. In that year, O'Driscoll led Ireland to second place in the Six Nations Championship
2003 Six Nations Championship
The 2003 Six Nations Championship was the fourth series of the Six Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-ninth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship...
. This was followed by Triple Crowns
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
in 2004 (Ireland's first crown since 1985), 2006 and 2007. In 2004, O'Driscoll captained Ireland to a 17–12 victory over South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the first Irish win over the Springboks since 1965.
In 2009, O'Driscoll was again selected as captain, leading Ireland to win the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
, Six Nations Championship
2009 Six Nations Championship
The 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
and their first Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
in 61 years. He scored a try in every match except one, culminating in a 17–15 victory in Cardiff in which O'Driscoll again scored a try and was the RBS man of the match. On 27 March 2009, he was named as player of the 2009 Six Nations Championship
2009 Six Nations Championship
The 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
. O'Driscoll won a fans' online poll ahead of runner-up, Italy back-row Sergio Parisse
Sergio Parisse
Sergio Parisse is an Italian Argentine rugby union rugby player. He was the first Italian rugby union player to be nominated for the IRB International player of the year...
, and Ireland lock Paul O'Connell
Paul O'Connell
Paul O'Connell is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Munster and Ireland. He also captained the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa.-Early life:...
who came third. In May 2009, he was named the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players' Player of the Year for the past season.
On 15 November 2009, in a 20–20 draw against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, O'Driscoll scored a last minute try. The next day, he was named as one of the seven nominations for the 2009 International Rugby Board player of the year
IRB International Player of the Year
IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
, but, to much criticism, he controversially missed out to Richie McCaw for this title by a solitary point.
O'Driscoll started for and captained Ireland for every match during the 2010 Six Nations Championship
2010 Six Nations Championship
The 2010 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2010 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 11th series of the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition between the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
. He picked up his 100th test cap for Ireland against Wales in the Millennium Stadium. He scored his 40th test try against New Zealand on 12 June 2010.
He started every match for Ireland in the 2010 Autumn Tests, and bested the Four/Five/Six Nations record for tries scored against England in March 2011.
O'Driscoll has played for Ireland in the last three World Cups
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
(13 caps, 6 tries).
He became Ireland's most capped player on 26 June 2010 against Australia, winning his 103rd cap.
In the 2011 Six Nations Championship
2011 Six Nations Championship
The 2011 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2011 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy,...
, O’Driscoll’s 47th minute try against England, took him past Ian Smith’s 78-year-old record of 24 tries to become the leading Championship try scorer of all time with 25 Tries. On that day, O'Driscoll also equaled John Smit
John Smit
John William Smit is the 50th and current captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. He has played most of his career as a hooker, but played twice for the Springboks off the bench as a prop prior to the South Africa coaching staff's decision to use him as a tighthead...
's International Captaincy caps of 75.
British and Irish Lions
O'Driscoll appeared in all three British and Irish Lions Tests on the team's 2001 tour of Australia where he announced himself as a world star with an outstanding individual try in the 1st Test victory at The Gabba in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. On 11 April 2005, he was named captain of the team for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. Prior to that tour, he had been named captain of the Northern Hemisphere side for the IRB Rugby Aid Match
IRB Rugby Aid Match
The IRB Rugby Aid Match was a rugby union football match played on 5 March 2005 under the auspices of the International Rugby Board to raise money for the United Nations World Food Programme to support its work aiding victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami....
(a 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
fundraiser
Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was prompted by one of the worst natural disasters of modern times. On 26 December 2004, the earthquake, which struck off the northwest coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, generated a tsunami that wreaked havoc along much of the...
) held at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
in March 2005, but was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury, but appeared pitch-side for the match.
O'Driscoll's playing contribution to the 2005 Lions ended in the opening minutes of the first Test against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
on 25 June 2005, when he was carried off the field on a stretcher with a shoulder injury
Dislocation (medicine)
Joint dislocation, or luxation , occurs when bones in a joint become displaced or misaligned. It is often caused by a sudden impact to the joint. The ligaments always become damaged as a result of a dislocation...
just after being spear-tackled in tandem by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga
Tana Umaga
Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...
and Keven Mealamu
Keven Mealamu
Keven Mealamu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays at hooker for the Blues in the Super 14, Auckland in the National Provincial Championship, and the New Zealand national team, All Blacks....
after the ball had been cleared out of a ruck. He extended one arm to protect his head, and his shoulder was dislocated on impact.
The independent citing commissioner found that the New Zealand players had no case to answer, and The Lions management were criticised by New Zealanders for attempting to divert attention from the teams poor performance. However, four months later, and following new footage of the incident, the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
unequivocally condemned the spear tackle by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu, stating: "This footage wasn't available at the time and the IRB are unable to act retrospectively because the two sides had both signed a tour agreement whereby disciplinary matters had to be resolved within 12 hours of the match". The International Rugby Board's communications manager Greg Thomas stated "...that dangerous tackles like this have no part in the game". Although unable to play, O'Driscoll remained as non-playing captain on a losing tour and only underwent surgery on his return. He then released a DVD entitled Brian O'Driscoll's Lions Diary in which he described his tour experience and his opinion of the events that transpired.
On 21 April 2009, O'Driscoll was selected as part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions
2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
tour to South Africa. On 1 June 2009, he was named as captain of the Lions for the game against the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
taking place on 3 June, in place of the rested Paul O'Connell. This was the first time he has captained the Lions since the spear tackle incident in New Zealand in 2005. He was also named in the outside centre position for the Lions in their first test of the 2009 tour against South Africa, in which he made two assists as the Lions lost 26 – 21. He was forced to withdraw from the tour on 30 June before the third and final test due to a head injury and subsequent concussion he suffered in the second test.
Barbarians
O'Driscoll made his first BarbariansBarbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
appearance against South Africa on 10 December 2000. O'Driscoll made two more appearances for the Barbarians - 22 May 2004 against Scotland; and, 30 May 2004 against England. Against South Africa, O'Driscoll scored his only try as a part of the Barbarians team.
Injury comeback
In September 2005, as O'Driscoll was said to be preparing to leave Irish provincial rugby and agree to a contract to play in France, the IRFU quickly announced they would do all they could to keep him in Ireland. O'Driscoll subsequently signed a deal with the IRFU to keep him at Leinster through the 2007 World Cup. O'Driscoll made his playing comeback for Leinster in December 2005 at Ravenhill against Ulster.Tributes and awards
In 2001, 2002 and 2009, O'Driscoll was nominated for the IRB World Player of the YearIRB International Player of the Year
IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
. In 2001, he lost out to his Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
teammate Keith Wood
Keith Wood
Keith Gerard Mallinson Wood and educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, the Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster....
; in 2002, to Fabien Galthié
Fabien Galthié
Fabien Galthié is a French rugby union coach and former player. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played much of his club rugby for Colomiers, and later on in his career, Stade Français. Galthié won 64 caps for France, including four Rugby World Cup appearances, as well as captaining the...
; and, in 2009, when widely regarded as favourite for the award, somewhat surprisingly to Richie McCaw
Richie McCaw
Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
by a solitary point, with one judge who would otherwise have given O'Driscoll the award, citing a flawed voting system.
O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
Championships.
In 2007, former England centre and captain Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...
published his list of the '50 Greatest Rugby players' in The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, and ranked O'Driscoll the tenth greatest player of all time, stating; "As a balanced centre he has everything – pace, strength, great attacking skill and is as good in defence as attack. On the 2001 Lions tour, he showed his outstanding talent as the stand out back in the series. He has the ability to prise open defences that other players cannot even contemplate. With his poise, his change of speed and his closeness to the ground it is very hard to stop him. Ireland are half the side without him".
In summer 2008 O'Driscoll received the Dubliner of the Year Award from The Dubliner magazine.
In January 2010, O'Driscoll was voted World Rugby player of the decade (2000–2009) by the influential magazine Rugby World
Rugby World
Rugby World is the world's top-selling rugby union magazine. It is published monthly by IPC Media and edited by Paul Morgan. Long considered a leader in the industry, the magazine has benefited from a worldwide rise in interest in rugby following the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.-See also:* Bill...
.
Personal life
O'Driscoll married actress Amy HubermanAmy Huberman
Amy O'Driscoll, professionally known as Amy Huberman, is an Irish actress and writer who has starred in numerous productions since beginning her career in 2002 on RTÉ's On Homeground.-Early life:...
in July 2010.
He has published one book, "A Year in the Centre" (2005), a memoir of a year as professional rugby player. A biography of O'Driscoll, called In BOD We Trust, by Marcus Stead was published in March 2008. A revised and extended version of Stead's book was published in August 2011, titled "Brian O'Driscoll: The Biography".
In February 2011, O'Driscoll and his wife were invited to the Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton, but only his wife attended, due to his club team's (Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
) preparation for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
the day after the wedding.
On 18 May 2011, O'Driscoll attended a state dinner hosted by President Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
to mark Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland
Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh made a state visit to the Republic of Ireland from 17 May to 20 May 2011, at the invitation of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese....
.
International Analysis by Opposition
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| Pacific Islanders Pacific Islanders rugby union team The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004... |
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| Total | 108 | 68 | 39 | 1 | 44 | 235 |
Underage Team
- IRBInternational Rugby BoardThe International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
Under 19 Rugby World ChampionshipUnder 19 Rugby World ChampionshipThe IRB under-19 Rugby World Cup was the premier tournament for male rugby union players under the age of 19 organised by the sports governing body the International Rugby Board annually from 2004 until 2007...
– 1998 - Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
Professional Club
- European CupHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
– 2008/2009, 2010/20112010–11 Heineken CupThe 2010–11 Heineken Cup was the 16th season of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby...
; - Magners League – 2001/2002, 2007/2008
International Team
- Grand SlamGrand Slam (Rugby Union)In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
– 20092009 Six Nations ChampionshipThe 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams... - Six Nations ChampionshipSix Nations ChampionshipThe Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
– 2009 - Triple CrownTriple Crown (Rugby Union)In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
– 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 - British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
Tourist – 2001, 2005 (captain), 2009
Individual Awards
- 6 Nations All time top try scorerSix Nations ChampionshipThe Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
with 25 tournament tries. - 6 Nations Player of the YearSix Nations ChampionshipThe Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
– 2006, 2007, 2009. - 6 Nations Top try scorerSix Nations ChampionshipThe Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
– 2009 (tied with Riki Flutey). - European Cup Top try scorerHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
– 2009. - Shortlisted for IRB International Player of the YearIRB International Player of the YearIRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
3 times – 2001, 2002, 2009. - Named on ERC European Dream Team (to mark the first 15 years of the Heineken CupHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
). - IRB International Try of the Year 2008 ( Australia v Ireland).
- IRUPA Players' Player of the Year – 2008/09.
- Texaco Sportstars Rugby Award – 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009.
- 'Rugby WorldRugby WorldRugby World is the world's top-selling rugby union magazine. It is published monthly by IPC Media and edited by Paul Morgan. Long considered a leader in the industry, the magazine has benefited from a worldwide rise in interest in rugby following the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.-See also:* Bill...
' magazines' Player of the Decade. - Named on 'Rugby WorldRugby WorldRugby World is the world's top-selling rugby union magazine. It is published monthly by IPC Media and edited by Paul Morgan. Long considered a leader in the industry, the magazine has benefited from a worldwide rise in interest in rugby following the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.-See also:* Bill...
' magazines' Team of the Decade. - English Rugby Union Writers' Club Pat Marshall Memorial Award as the sport's outstanding personality for 2009.
- Dubliner of the Year Award – 2008.