Conor O'Shea
Encyclopedia
Conor Michael Patrick O'Shea (born 21 October 1970, County Limerick
) is a former rugby union
player who played at full back for Ireland
, Lansdowne R.F.C. and London Irish
. He is Director of Rugby at Harlequins F.C..
in Dublin, which is one of the main rugby nurseries in Ireland. He was coached by the respected John McClean. He attended University College Dublin
where he began his representative career. O'Shea received his Master's of Sports Science degree in Sports Management in 1996 from the United States Sports Academy
, known around the world as America's Sports University. His father, Jerome
, was a famous exponent of Gaelic football
in the 1950s and won the All-Ireland Championship with Kerry
in 1953, 1955 and 1959.
and the Leinster Senior Cup with Lansdowne R.F.C..
An ankle injury sustained while playing for London Irish against Gloucester R.F.C. in November 2000 curtailed a very promising career which included 35 international caps for Ireland
scoring 44 points, including six tries.
O'Shea served London Irish
as player, captain, Director of Rugby and finally Managing Director. He joined London Irish in 1995 and made 127 first team appearances for the club scoring 412 points including 62 tries.
In 1999 he was awarded the Zurich Players’ Player of the Season Award. He then won the Zurich Rugby Director of the Season Award (jointly with Brendan Venter
in 2002 after London Irish
won the Powergen Cup against Northampton Saints
.
O'Shea left London Irish in 2005 to take up an appointment with the Rugby Football Union
as Director of Regional Academies. His job was to oversee the network of 14 England regional academies and lead the selection and monitoring of players capable of developing into future England internationals. In 2008 he left his position with the RFU to take up a role with the English Institute of Sport
as National Director.
In 2007 O'Shea was called upon by the RFU to give a talk to the England
squad before playing Ireland
for the first time at Croke Park
to acquaint the players with the sporting and political history of the ground.
O'Shea also works as a television analyst on RTÉ
in Ireland.
On 16 December 2009, Harlequins
announced that O'Shea would become their new Director of Rugby. He started his new position on 15 March 2010.
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
) is a former rugby union
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 who played at full back 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...
, Lansdowne R.F.C. and London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
. He is Director of Rugby at Harlequins F.C..
Early life and education
O'Shea went to Terenure CollegeTerenure College
Terenure College is a Carmelites-run secondary school located in the Terenure area of Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded in 1860 and comprises a primary and secondary school. The school is part of the popular culture "Rugby Belt" or Leinster Schools Rugby playing institutions, having a strong...
in Dublin, which is one of the main rugby nurseries in Ireland. He was coached by the respected John McClean. He attended University College Dublin
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...
where he began his representative career. O'Shea received his Master's of Sports Science degree in Sports Management in 1996 from the United States Sports Academy
United States Sports Academy
The United States Sports Academy is an accredited, sport-specific institution located in Daphne, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1972, the Academy has provided its sports programs to more than 60 countries around the...
, known around the world as America's Sports University. His father, Jerome
Jerome O'Shea
Jerome O'Shea is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club St. Mary's and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from the 1954 until 1960. O'Shea's son, Conor, played rugby for Ireland in the 1990s.-References:-Teams:...
, was a famous exponent of Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
in the 1950s and won the All-Ireland Championship with Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in 1953, 1955 and 1959.
Rugby career
O'Shea won the inter-provincial championship in Ireland with LeinsterLeinster 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...
and the Leinster Senior Cup with Lansdowne R.F.C..
An ankle injury sustained while playing for London Irish against Gloucester R.F.C. in November 2000 curtailed a very promising career which included 35 international caps 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...
scoring 44 points, including six tries.
O'Shea served London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
as player, captain, Director of Rugby and finally Managing Director. He joined London Irish in 1995 and made 127 first team appearances for the club scoring 412 points including 62 tries.
In 1999 he was awarded the Zurich Players’ Player of the Season Award. He then won the Zurich Rugby Director of the Season Award (jointly with Brendan Venter
Brendan Venter
Brendan Venter is a former rugby union player who played at centre and also coached for London Irish. He is currently director of rugby at Saracens...
in 2002 after London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
won the Powergen Cup against Northampton Saints
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....
.
O'Shea left London Irish in 2005 to take up an appointment with the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
as Director of Regional Academies. His job was to oversee the network of 14 England regional academies and lead the selection and monitoring of players capable of developing into future England internationals. In 2008 he left his position with the RFU to take up a role with the English Institute of Sport
English Institute of Sport
The English Institute of Sport , established in May 2002, is an organisation which provides sport science and medical support services to elite athletes through a nationwide network of expertise and facilities, working with Olympic and Paralympic summer and winter sports, as well as English and a...
as National Director.
In 2007 O'Shea was called upon by the RFU to give a talk to the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
squad before playing 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...
for the first time 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...
to acquaint the players with the sporting and political history of the ground.
O'Shea also works as a television analyst on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
in Ireland.
On 16 December 2009, 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...
announced that O'Shea would become their new Director of Rugby. He started his new position on 15 March 2010.