Seán O'Brien (rugby union, born 1987)

Last updated

Seán O'Brien
Sean O'Brien 2015 RWC.jpg
O'Brien playing for Ireland during the 2015 Rugby World Cup
Birth nameSeán Kevin O'Brien
Date of birth (1987-02-14) 14 February 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Carlow, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight108 kg (17.0 st; 238 lb)
SchoolTullow Community School
University University College Dublin
Griffith College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Youth career
Tullow
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
UCD ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2008–2019 Leinster 126 (100)
2019–2022 London Irish 28 (0)
Correct as of 16 March 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2006 Ireland U21 8
2007 Ireland U20 2 (0)
2009–2015 Ireland Wolfhounds 5
2009–2019 Ireland 56 (30)
2013, 2017 British & Irish Lions 5 (5)
Correct as of 16 March 2019

Seán Kevin O'Brien (born 14 February 1987) is an Irish retired professional rugby union player. He previously represented home province Leinster for eleven seasons. At Leinster, he helped the team win four European titles, [1] and was named ERC European Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season, he then played three season's for English Premiership Rugby side London Irish.

Contents

Internationally, he played for Ireland for ten years, and toured twice with the British & Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017. O'Brien could play across the back-row, though he primarily played as an openside flanker. He announced his retirement from rugby in 2022. [2] [3]

Professional career

Leinster

O’Brien made his Leinster debut against Cardiff Blues in September 2008 in the Celtic League. He made his Heineken Cup debut against Castres Olympique in December 2008. He did not feature for Leinster in the 2009 Heineken Cup Final, but evidence of O’Brien's emergence as one of the most exciting young back-row forwards in Europe came in the form of strong interest from France before Christmas of 2010. The Irish Rugby Football Union moved quickly and O’Brien agreed a new three-year deal with Leinster the following January.

Sean O'Brien in Leinster gear. Sean O'Brien cropped.jpg
Sean O'Brien in Leinster gear.

O'Brien was in outstanding form for Leinster during the pool stages of the 2010–11 Heineken Cup, and was an integral part of the team that beat Northampton Saints to win the 2011 Heineken Cup Final. In 2012 O'Brien helped Leinster win the 2012 Heineken Cup Final, scoring a try as Leinster beat Ulster. In January 2014, O'Brien signed a new two-year deal with Leinster. [4] On 21 December 2015, O'Brien signed a new three-year contract with Leinster. [5]

London Irish

O'Brien joined English Premiership side London Irish, where former Ireland head coach Declan Kidney and assistant coach Les Kiss are director of rugby and head coach respectively, in December 2019, after the completion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. [6] O'Brien made his debut against Sale Sharks on 6 March 2020. [7] He retired from rugby at the conclusion of the 2021–22 season. [8]

Ireland and British & Irish Lions

In 2007, he was a member of the Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winning squad. O'Brien was called up to the Ireland team for the 2009 November Tests, and he gained his first cap when he came on as a substitute against Fiji at the RDS Arena on 21 November 2009. [9] He also came on as a replacement against South Africa in a 15–10 win on 28 November 2009. [10] He came off the bench against Italy in the 2010 Six Nations Championship, but was dropped afterwards. He was injured during Ireland's 2010 Summer Tests, but won his first start against Samoa in the 2010 Autumn Tests, though he did not feature in any other games. O'Brien started every game for Ireland during the 2011 Six Nations, winning the Man of the Match award against Italy. He came third in the 2011 Six Nations Player of the Championship losing out to the winner Andrea Masi. [11] He was selected in Ireland's final 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. O'Brien started against Australia, Russia, Italy and Wales during Ireland's World Cup campaign, scoring a try against Russia and winning the Man-of-the-Match award against Italy. O’Brien was ranked among the five best players at the 2011 World Cup, due in significant part to his standout performance against Australia where he led the team in both tackles and runs. [12]

O’Brien did not play for Ireland during 2014 due lingering problems from a shoulder injury. [13] In the final 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D match, O'Brien punched Pascal Papé in the first minute of the win over France. The incident went unnoticed by the match officials, and O'Brien later was named man of the match. [14] The win earned Ireland top pool placement, and a quarter-final against Argentina. O'Brien was later cited by World Rugby, and received a one-game ban (reduced from the recommended minimum of two for mitigating factors including an "exemplary disciplinary record"), meaning he was unable to play in the quarter-final. [15]

O’Brien last played for Ireland in the 2019 Six Nations. He missed the 2019 Rugby World Cup due to a hip injury. [16] After joining London Irish in 2020 O'Brien said that he would love to play for Ireland again but he is aware of the unwritten rule in Irish rugby regarding players based overseas not being selected for the national team and he doesn't see this being any different for himself. [17]

Awards

O'Brien was named 2010–2011 ERC European Player of the Year following a season where Leinster were Heineken Cup champions. [18] He was one of five players shortlisted from the 24 Heineken Cup and 20 Amlin Challenge Cup teams that included Leinster teammates Jamie Heaslip and Isa Nacewa. [19] O’Brien was ranked by the IRB among the five best players at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. [20] O'Brien was awarded the 2011 Guinness/Rugby Writers of Ireland player of the year and received his award at a function in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. [21]

Personal life

In September 2014, he bought Bellamy's Pub in Ballsbridge with Leinster teammates Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney and Jamie Heaslip. After an extensive refurbishment, it was reopened as "The Bridge 1859". [22] [23] They have all since opened Blackrock Bar And plan to open a smaller lemon duke restaurant called ‘Little Duke”.

Since 2018, O'Brien had been in a relationship with Sarah Rowe. [24] [25] They Broke up in December 2020.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian O'Driscoll</span> Irish rugby former player

Brian Gerard O'Driscoll is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. He is regarded by critics as one of the greatest rugby players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ospreys (rugby union)</span> Welsh rugby union team

The Ospreys, formerly the Neath–Swansea Ospreys is one of the four professional rugby union teams from Wales. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team formed as a result of Neath RFC and Swansea RFC combining to create a new merged entity, as part of the new regional structure of Welsh rugby, that began in 2003. They are also affiliated with a number of local semi-professional and amateur clubs, including Welsh Premier Division sides Aberavon RFC, Bridgend Ravens, and original founding clubs Neath and Swansea. The regional area represented by the team has widely become known for rugby purposes as 'Ospreylia'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leinster Rugby</span> Rugby union team in Ireland

Leinster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial club rugby union teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isa Nacewa</span> New Zealand-born Fijian rugby union player

Isakeli "Isa" Nacewa is a former rugby union player and coach. Born in New Zealand of Fijian descent, he represented the Fiji national team, winning one cap in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Heaslip</span> Irish and Lions Rugby Union player (born 1983)

James Heaslip is an Irish former rugby union player who represented Leinster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He played as a number 8. Heislip earned 95 caps for Ireland during his international career from 2006 to 2017, making him one of the most capped players in Irish national team history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Hartley</span> England international rugby union player (born 1986)

Dylan Hartley is a former rugby union player who represented England and Northampton Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Kearney</span> Irish former rugby player

Robert Kearney is an Irish former rugby union player. He played for 15 years for Leinster followed by a six-month stint in Australia, playing for Perth based side Western Force. He also played over a decade for the Ireland national rugby union team with whom he earned 95 caps, and went on two British & Irish Lions tours in 2009 and 2013. As a youth he also played rugby union for Clongowes Wood College and Gaelic football for Louth in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cian Healy</span> Irish rugby union player

Cian Eoin James Healy is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Sexton</span> Irish rugby union player

Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half and captained the Ireland national team from 2019 until 2023. He also played club rugby for Leinster and French side Racing 92.

The Irish Schoolboys rugby union team is the national team for secondary school students and under-18 school players in Ireland. There is an equivalent Ireland under 18 clubs side that play international rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Rugby Cup</span>

European Rugby Cup Ltd was the governing body and organiser of the two major European rugby union club tournaments: the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup. It was replaced by the European Professional Club Rugby governing body in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Heineken Cup final</span> Football match

The 2009 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Heineken Cup, the 14th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 23 May 2009 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh; this was the second time that the Heineken Cup final had been held at Murrayfield after the 2005 final, when Toulouse beat Stade Français 18–12 after extra time.

The 2012 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 2011–12 Heineken Cup, the 17th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 19 May 2012 at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. The final was between Ulster and defending champions Leinster. Leinster triumphed, with captain Leo Cullen becoming the first person to raise the trophy three times. The match broke many records, including the largest winning margin in a Heineken Cup final and the most points scored. It led to media reports suggesting Leinster were the greatest European club team of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Madigan</span> Rugby player

Ian Madigan is an Irish former professional rugby union player for Leinster, Bordeaux, Bristol Bears, Ulster and Ireland. His primary position was at fly-half, although he also played at centre and full-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Kearney</span> Irish rugby union player

Mick Kearney is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for Irish side Ulster in the United Rugby Championship. His primary position is lock, though he has also played as a flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Rugby Champions Cup</span> Annual rugby union tournament

The European Rugby Champions Cup is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a predominantly European league. Clubs qualify for the Champions Cup via their final positions in their respective national/regional leagues or via winning the second-tier Challenge Cup; those that do not qualify are instead eligible to compete in the second-tier Challenge Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Professional Club Rugby</span> Governing body and organiser of rugby union club tournaments

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is the governing body and organiser of the two major club rugby union tournaments: the European Rugby Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup. A third tournament, the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition was introduced as a qualification competition for clubs from minor nations to enter the Challenge Cup. EPCR shared control of this tournament with Rugby Europe, the international federation for rugby union in Europe, and with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR). The tournament was discontinued after the 2018/19 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh van der Flier</span> Rugby player

Joshua Dirk van der Flier is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Kearney</span> Rugby player

Dave Kearney, is an Irish rugby union player who plays wing and fullback for Lansdowne, Chicago Hounds and Ireland. He attended Clongowes Wood College. Kearney's older brother, Rob, formerly started at fullback for Leinster and the Ireland national rugby union team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Pro12 Grand Final</span> Football match

The 2016 Pro12 Grand Final was the final match of the 2015–16 Pro12 season. The 2015–16 season was the second with Guinness as the title sponsor and the seventh ever League Grand Final. The final was played between Leinster and Connacht.

References

  1. ↑ “Toughest thing I ever had to do”, BBC Sport.
  2. ↑ "The retired class of 2022". www.world.rugby. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Wright, Jared (19 December 2022). "Retiring Class of 2022: The rugby greats who called time on their careers". PlanetRugby. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sean O'Brien fends off France and signs two-year Leinster contract". Irish Independent. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Sean O'Brien commits future to Leinster by signing new three year deal". Irish Independent . 22 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Sean O'Brien: Ireland and Leinster flanker to join London Irish in December". BBC Sport. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  7. ↑ "Sean O'BRIEN". its rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Seán O'Brien to retire from rugby". London Irish. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Ireland 41–6 Fiji". RTÉ Sport. 21 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  10. ↑ "Ireland 15–10 South Africa". BBC Sport. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  11. ↑ "Masi scoops Six Nations award". ESPN Scrum. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  12. ↑ “Top five players of RWC 2011”.
  13. ↑ “Sean O’Brien out for five or six months due to shoulder injury”, BBC Sport.
  14. ↑ "O'Brien banned for Argentina game". BBC Sport.
  15. ↑ "Decision of the Judicial Officer - Citing of Sean O'Brien (Ireland)" (PDF). Rugby World Cup 2015. 14 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Ireland suffer Rugby World Cup injury blow as Sean O'Brien is ruled out". Guaridan. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  17. ↑ "Zebo's Irish snub sharpens O'Brien's Premiership focus". 12 August 2020.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ Kitson, Robert (25 May 2011). "Sean O'Brien of Leinster named European Player of the Year". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  19. ↑ "Sean O'Brien lands ERC accolade". RTÉ News. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  20. ↑ “Top five players of RWC 2011”.
  21. ↑ "O'Brien named writers' Player of the Year". RTÉ Sport. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  22. ↑ "Opening the bridge: Irish rugby players Rob & Dave Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien open Dublin pub The Bridge 1859 today". evoke.ie. 25 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "The Bar is Now Open - Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip officially open 'The Bridge 1859' in Ballsbridge". evoke.ie. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "Revealed: Irish rugby star Sean O'Brien is dating Mayo footballer Sarah Rowe, one of the GAA's fastest rising stars". Irish Independent. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  25. ↑ "Sean O'Brien lines out with GAA star girlfriend Sarah Rowe at star-studded Leinster Awards Ball: all the pictures". Irish Independent. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.