About
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish rugby union player and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
He played as 13 or outside centre for Leinster rugby team, he also Captained the Irish national team and the British and Irish Lions, a combined squad of the best players from the UK and Ireland. O'Driscoll is the fourth most capped player in rugby history with 141 appearances. He is the 8th highest try scorer in international rugby history with 47 tries.
Early Life
O'Driscoll was born in Dublin. The O'Driscoll's family was steeped in rugby. His father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and a cousin of his father, Barry, won four caps. Barry's brother John however had represented Ireland 26 times and was a member of the Lions side that toured in 1980.
As a child, Brian played Gaelic Football before switching to rugby. He went to Blackrock College, where he played in the Senior Cup team. He was capped three times for The Ireland Schools squad in 1996.
In 1998, O'Driscoll played for the Ireland U-19 side, which won the Under 19 Rugby World Championship.
After leaving school, he attended University College Dublin (UCD) on a scholarship and graduated with a Diploma in Sports Management in 1998.
While at UCD, he first made the under-20 side, before being promoted to the top team. O'Driscoll made his Ireland under-21 debut in February 1999, and eventually gained four caps.
Club Career
O'Driscoll made his debut for Leinster in 1999 and was highly effective in the back line. In his time at Leinster he won the Celtic League four times, a competition with the 4 Irish teams, 2 Scottish teams and 9 Welsh teams. He also won the Heineken European Cup 3 times beating Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints and Ulster in each final.
He also won the Challenge Cup (second tier European cup) beating Stade Francais Paris in the final.
Ireland Career
O'Driscoll received his first test cap for Ireland in a 46 - 10 loss to Australia during an international tour in 1999. From 2000-2002 he would contribute in two major Irish wins against France and Australia scoring three tries in Paris. He was given his first captaincy of the Irish team against the Wallabies.
In 2009 he captained Ireland to great success in the six nations winning the triple crown and the grand slam. Overall he won six triple crowns, a grand slam and two six nations championships.
British and Irish Lions
O'Driscoll captained the Lions in 2005 on their tour of New Zealand but suffered a shoulder dislocation
from a dangerous tackle. He continued the tour as a non-playing captain, but the Lions eventually lost. In 2013 he was selected for the fourth Lions tour, to Australia where they won they won the series.
Brian O'Driscoll retired in 2014 but remains a very inspirational figure and one the greatest player of the game. He also gained many individual achievements such as 2008 international player of the year.
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