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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian O'Driscoll | ||
| Date of birth | 21 January 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 93 kilograms (210 lb) | ||
| Nickname | BOD, Drico, The Dricmeister General Mon | ||
| School | Blackrock College | ||
| University | University College Dublin | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Position(s) | Outside Centre | ||
| current team | University College Dublin | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Outside Centre | ||
| Clubs played for | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | Points |
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| UCD Blackrock College UCD |
|||
| correct as of 2007-09-15. | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| 1999-present | Leinster | 129[1] | (256, 50tr)[2] |
| correct as of 2009-05-04. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| 1999-present 2001-2009 |
Ireland Lions Barbarians |
100 6 |
(205,38tr) (5,1tr) |
| correct as of 2010-03-13. | |||
Brian Gerald O'Driscoll (Irish name: Brian Gearóid Ó hEidirsceoil ; born 21 January 1979) is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Irish national 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 106 test caps, 100 for Ireland (64 as captain), and six for the British and Irish Lions. During this time he has scored 38 tries for Ireland and 1 try for the Lions in 2001, making him the highest try scorer of all time in Irish Rugby.[3] He is joint 11th-highest try scorer in Rugby Union history, and the highest scoring centre of all time. He holds the Irish Six Nations record for most tries scored with 21. He has scored the most Heineken Cup tries (28) for an Irishman.
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O'Driscoll was born in Clontarf on Dublin's Northside. As a child he played Gaelic football before moving to rugby.[4] He was educated at Blackrock College where he played in the Senior Cup team. He was capped three times for Ireland Schools in 1996.[5][6] 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.[7] At UCD, under the respected director of John McClean, he first made the under-20 side, before being promoted to the top team near the end of his first year.[7] After two years, O'Driscoll graduated from UCD with a diploma in sports management.[7] He made his under-21 debut in February 1999, and eventually gained four caps.[6]
O'Driscoll made his debut for Leinster in 1999, and under head coach Matt Williams 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, Leinster underwent instability in the coaching set up. 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 2006 and despite rumours of O'Driscoll moving to France, he 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 stunning 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 All 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 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, though 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 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 to a 6-5 victory. O'Driscoll (who the previous summer shed one stone of weight) was to the fore in defence, which had always been a strong area of his game, but reached new heights in 2009.
The semi-final were a "re-match" against rivals Munster in Croke Park, a 82,206 sell out, a world record club attendance. On the day Leinster almost completely reversed the scoreline in the 2006 game (30-6), defeating them 25-6. 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.[8] Leinster captured the European glory 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.[9] In his post match interview, a delighted O'Driscoll paid tribute to former Leinster team mates who shared his journey, but were not present in the current squad.
In January 2006, he helped Leinster beat Bath to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2005-6 Heineken Cup. On 1 April 2006, O'Driscoll led Leinster to victory over Toulouse; reaching the Heineken Cup semi-final.
As of 20 December 2009, O'Driscoll has played 64 times for Leinster in the Heineken Cup, scoring 120 points, including 27 tries (behind record holder Vincent Clercs 30 tries & 1 ahead of Shane Horgan for lead Irishman).
In 1999, O'Driscoll was selected for the senior squad and was on the bench for a match against Italy (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.[7] In 2000, he memorably scored a Hat-trick of tries in a Six Nations Championship victory against France in Paris.
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).[10] In 2002, O'Driscoll starred in Irelands 18-9 win over Australia, the first Irish victory over the Wallabies since 1979.[11] 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.[12]
O'Driscoll has played in the last three World Cups (13 caps, 6 tries). 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.[13] On March 27, 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.[14] In May 2009, he was named the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players' Player of the Year for the past season.[15]
On 15 November 2009, in a 20-20 draw against Australia at Croke Park, O'Driscoll scored a last minute try.[16] 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.[17][18]
As of February 2010, O'Driscoll had scored 205 points for Ireland.
Brian 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 his now legendary try in the first test.[19] 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; however, he did appear at pitchside for the match.[20][21]
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 tackled in tandem by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu after the ball had been cleared out of a ruck.[22] He extended one arm to protect his head, and his shoulder was dislocated on impact.[citation needed]
The independent citing commissioner found that the New Zealand players had no case to answer. However, following new footage, International Rugby Board's communications manager Greg Thomas stated ...that dangerous tackles like this have no part in the game.[23] The Lions management were heavily criticised by New Zealanders for attempting to divert attention from their terrible performance.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
On 21 April 2009, O'Driscoll was selected as part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.[24] On 1 June 2009, he was named as captain of the Lions for the game against the Golden Lions taking place on the 3rd 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.[25]
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.[citation needed] 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.
In 2001, 2002 and 2009, O'Driscoll was nominated for the IRB World Player of the Year. 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.[18]
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".[26]
In summer 2008 O'Driscoll was named Dubliner of The Year by The Dubliner magazine.
In January 2010, Brian O'Driscoll was voted World Rugby player of the decade (2000-2009) by the influential magazine Rugby World.[27]
“'Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”
O'Driscoll is a keen fan of both Manchester United and the Dublin Gaelic football team, attending the Dublin football matches at Croke Park.[29] O'Driscoll is engaged to Amy Huberman, an actress currently starring in the RTÉ production of The Clinic.[30]
He is also the cousin of Arsenal F.C. club doctor Dr. Gary O'Driscoll. 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, with a new, paperback version published in May 2009 telling the story of Ireland's Grand Slam victory.
| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tries | Points | % Won |
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 Argentina |
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 Australia |
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 Canada |
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 England |
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 Fiji |
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 France |
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 Georgia |
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 Italy |
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 Japan |
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 Namibia |
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 New Zealand |
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| Pacific Islanders |
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 Romania |
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 Russia |
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 Samoa |
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 Scotland |
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 South Africa |
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 United States |
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 Wales |
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| Total | 106 | 67 | 38 | 1 | 39 | 210 | 63.21 |
Correct as of March 15 2010[32]
A Year in the Centre, 2005, Dublin, Penguin Books, Ltd ISBN 1844880788 [35]
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| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Anthony Foley David Humphreys David Humphreys Simon Best |
Ireland Rugby Union Captain Nov 2002 - Jun 2005 Jun 2005-Nov 2005 2006-May 2007 2008-present |
Succeeded by David Humphreys Simon Easterby Simon Best incumbent |
| Preceded by Martin Johnson |
British and Irish Lions Captain 2005 (Tour) May-Jun 2005 (active) |
Succeeded by Tour - Paul O'Connell active: Martin Corry |
   | Brian [[O'Driscoll]] - Leinster Rugby : Home |
| | No action on new O'Driscoll video - BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Internationals | No action on new O'Driscoll video |
| | Irish put their faith in Bod - - Scotland on Sunday |
| | North 19-54 South - BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | North 19-54 South |
| | Irish Rugby Football Union profile - Irish Rugby : Brian O'Driscoll |
| | O'Driscoll signs new Ireland deal - BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Irish | O'Driscoll signs new Ireland deal |
| | UCD Profile - Senior Squad, UCD Rugby Football Club Dublin |
| | O'Driscoll stays in Ireland - BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Internationals | O'Driscoll stays in Ireland |
| | Brian O'Driscoll is Ireland's Sexiest... - ShowBiz Ireland - Brian O'Driscoll is voted Ireland's Sexiest Male by Social & Personal Magazine: Photos |
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