Brian O'Driscoll facts for kids

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Brian O'Driscoll

Birth name	Brian Gerard O'Driscoll
Date of birth	(1979-01-21) 21 January 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)
School	Blackrock College
University	University College Dublin
Notable relative(s)	Frank O'Driscoll (father) Barry O'Driscoll (cousin) John O'Driscoll (cousin)
Spouse	Amy Huberman ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	3
Rugby union career
Position(s) Outside Centre Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1998–2014 University College Dublin () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1999–2014 Leinster 186 (311) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1996 Ireland Schools 3 () 1998 Ireland U-19s 5 () 1999 Ireland U-21s 4 () 2002 Ireland A 1 () 1999–2014 Ireland 133 (245) 2001–2013 British & Irish Lions 8 (30)

Brian Gerard O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is a famous Irish former professional rugby union player. He played as an outside centre for the Irish team Leinster and for the Ireland national team. He was the captain for Ireland from 2003 to 2012. He also led the British & Irish Lions team during their 2005 tour to New Zealand. Many people think he is one of the greatest rugby players ever.

Brian O'Driscoll is one of the players with the most international matches in rugby history. He played 141 international games: 133 for Ireland (leading as captain in 83 of them) and 8 for the Lions. He scored 46 tries for Ireland, making him Ireland's top try scorer of all time. He also scored 1 try for the Lions in 2001. He holds the record for the most tries in the Six Nations Championship with 26. He also scored the most Heineken Cup tries (30) by an Irishman. Brian was named Player of the Tournament in the Six Nations Championship three times: in 2006, 2007, and 2009.

He was added to the World Rugby Hall of Fame on 17 November 2016. After retiring, O'Driscoll became a rugby expert for TV channels like BT Sport and ITV Sport in the United Kingdom. He is also involved in some businesses, including a mobile app for rugby and an Irish e-scooter company.

Brian O'Driscoll's Early Life

Brian O'Driscoll was born and grew up in Clontarf, a part of Dublin, Ireland. His parents, Frank and Geraldine O'Driscoll, were both doctors. Brian didn't play much rugby until he went to Blackrock College at age 12, a school famous for rugby. His family had a strong connection to rugby. His father, Frank, played for Ireland twice. His father's cousins, Barry and John O'Driscoll, also played for Ireland. John even played for the Lions team.

When he was younger, Brian played Gaelic football before he started playing rugby. At Blackrock College, he played in the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup. In 1996, his team won the final, but Brian was a substitute. In 1997, his team lost in the quarter-finals. He played three times for the Ireland Schools team in 1996.

In 1998, Brian played for the Ireland Under-19 team, which won the Under 19 Rugby World Championship. After school, he went to University College Dublin (UCD) on a scholarship. He earned a diploma in Sports Management in 1998. While at UCD, he played for the university's rugby team. He also played for the Ireland Under-21 team in 1999, earning four caps. In 2009, UCD gave him a special award for his achievements in sports.

Playing for Leinster

Brian O'Driscoll started playing for Leinster in 1999. He quickly became a key player, often partnering with Shane Horgan in the centre. In 2001, Leinster won the first-ever Celtic League by beating Munster. In 2003, Leinster was expected to win the Heineken Cup but lost in the semi-finals.

10 November 2007. Brian O'Driscoll playing for Leinster Rugby against Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup.

In 2005, Brian became the captain of Leinster. He had just recovered from a shoulder injury he got during the Lions tour. Under the new coach, Michael Cheika, Leinster's attack became very strong. They had big wins against Bath Rugby and Toulouse. However, they lost to Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final. Leinster also missed out on winning the Magners League title that year.

In 2007, Leinster lost in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. In 2008, they didn't get past the group stages. However, in 2008, Leinster won the Magners League title, which was Brian's second trophy with the team and his only one as captain.

For the 2008–09 season, Brian decided to let Leo Cullen be the Leinster captain, while Brian remained Ireland's captain. Brian scored two tries against London Wasps. Leinster reached the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, where they beat Harlequins in a famous game known as the "Bloodgate" incident.

In the semi-final against their rivals Munster, Brian was named man of the match. He scored a crucial try that helped Leinster win and reach his first Heineken Cup final. On 23 May 2009, Leinster won the Heineken Cup by beating Leicester Tigers 19–16. Brian even scored a drop goal despite having a shoulder injury.

In the 2010–11 season, Brian won his second Heineken Cup with Leinster. He played in the final even though he had a knee injury. Leinster came from behind to beat Northampton 33–22 in the 2011 Heineken Cup Final.

Brian won his third Heineken Cup with Leinster in the 2012 Heineken Cup Final. They beat Ulster 42–14. Leinster scored several tries, including one from Seán O'Brien and Cian Healy.

In September 2013, Brian announced that the 2013–14 season would be his last before he retired from rugby. His very last game for Leinster was in the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final on 31 May. Leinster won the game 34–12 against the Glasgow Warriors. Brian had to leave the field early due to an injury. His final act as a player was helping his club captain, Leo Cullen, lift the Pro12 trophy.

International Rugby Career

Playing for Ireland

Brian O'Driscoll captaining Ireland against Georgia during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

In 1999, Brian O'Driscoll was chosen for the senior Ireland team. He played his first international match on 12 June 1999, against Australia in Brisbane. He was only 20 years old. It's interesting that he played for Ireland before he played for the senior Leinster team.

In 2000, Brian scored three tries in a Six Nations Championship game against France in Paris. This helped Ireland win in Paris for the first time since 1972. People in Ireland loved him, and some even wore T-shirts saying "In BOD We Trust."

In 2002, Brian became captain of Ireland for the first time in a game against Australia, which Ireland won. In 2003, after the previous captain retired, Brian became the permanent captain. That year, he led Ireland to second place in the 2003 Six Nations Championship. He then led them to win the Triple Crown in 2004 (their first since 1985), 2006, and 2007. In 2004, Brian captained Ireland to a victory over South Africa, which was Ireland's first win against them since 1965.

In 2009, Brian was again captain when Ireland won the Triple Crown, the Six Nations Championship, and their first Grand Slam in 61 years! He scored a try in almost every match. The final game was a 17–15 victory against Wales in Cardiff, where Brian scored a try and was named man of the match. He was also voted the player of the 2009 Six Nations Championship.

On 15 November 2009, Brian scored a last-minute try in a 20–20 draw against Australia. He was nominated for the 2009 International Rugby Board player of the year award.

Brian captained Ireland in every match during the 2010 Six Nations Championship. He played his 100th international game for Ireland against Wales. He also became Ireland's most-capped player on 26 June 2010, playing his 103rd game against Australia. He played for Ireland in the last four World Cups.

In the 2011 Six Nations Championship, Brian scored a try against England that made him the all-time leading try scorer in the Championship with 25 tries. On the same day, he equaled the record for most international games as captain (75).

Brian missed the entire 2012 Six Nations Championship because he had shoulder surgery. He returned as captain for the 2012 tour of New Zealand. He also equaled the record for captaining an international team 83 times. Brian played in the 2013 Six Nations Championship, but his teammate Jamie Heaslip was named captain instead. Brian still started every game for Ireland in that tournament.

On 8 March 2014, Brian played his last home international game for Ireland against Italy in the 2014 Six Nations Championship. Ireland won 46–7, and Brian helped set up three tries, earning him the Man of the Match award. At this point, he set a new world record for the most international caps, with 140 games.

Brian O'Driscoll's Final Home Test match.

In his very last international match, the final game of the 2014 Six Nations Championship on 15 March 2014, Brian and the Irish team beat France in Paris. This was only the second time in 42 years that Ireland had won there. This victory made Ireland the 2014 Six Nations champions. After the game, Brian said he couldn't have wished for a better way to end his career.

Playing for the British & Irish Lions

Brian O'Driscoll played in all three Test matches for the British & Irish Lions during their 2001 tour of Australia. He became a global star with an amazing try in the first Test match.

He was chosen to be the captain of the Lions team for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. However, his tour ended very early in the first Test against the All Blacks. He was carried off the field with a dislocated shoulder after a tackle. Even though he couldn't play, Brian stayed with the team as the non-playing captain.

On 21 April 2009, Brian was selected for the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He was named captain for one of the games. He also played in the first Test against South Africa, where he helped set up two tries. However, he had to leave the tour before the third Test due to a head injury.

On 30 April 2013, Brian was named in the squad for his fourth British & Irish Lions tour. He is only the third player in 125 years to achieve this. He played in the first two Test matches of the tour. He was surprisingly not chosen for the final Test, which the Lions won.

Playing for the Barbarians

Brian O'Driscoll played three times for the special invitational Barbarians rugby team. He played against South Africa in 2000, and against Scotland and England in 2004. He scored one try while playing for the Barbarians against South Africa.

Awards and Tributes

Brian O'Driscoll was nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year award in 2001, 2002, and 2009. He was chosen as the Player of the Tournament in the Six Nations Championship in 2006, 2007, and 2009.

In 2007, former England captain Will Carling listed Brian O'Driscoll as the tenth greatest rugby player of all time. In 2008, he received the Dubliner of the Year Award. In January 2010, Rugby World magazine voted him the World Rugby Player of the Decade (2000–09).

Brian O'Driscoll has received special honorary degrees from Dublin City University in 2013, Queen's University Belfast in 2014, and Trinity College Dublin in 2017.

Personal Life

Brian O'Driscoll married actress Amy Huberman in July 2010. They have three children: a daughter named Sadie (born in 2013), a son named Billy (born in 2014), and another son named Ted (born in 2020).

He has written two books: A Year in the Centre (2005) and his autobiography, The Test: My Autobiography (2014). His autobiography won the Sports Book of the Year award in 2014. Brian is a fan of the English football club Manchester United F.C..

In 2018, Brian O'Driscoll presented a TV show called Shoulder to Shoulder. It was about how rugby in Ireland brings people together from all parts of the island.

Honours

With Leinster

• Celtic League: 2001–2002, 2007–2008, 2012–2013, 2013–2014
• Heineken European Cup: 2008–2009, 2010–2011, 2011–2012
• Amlin European Challenge Cup: 2012–2013

With Ireland

• IRB Under-19 World Championship: 1998
• Six Nations Championship: 2009, 2014
• Grand Slam: 2009
• Triple Crown: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009

With British & Irish Lions

• British & Irish Lions series: 2013

Individual Awards

• World Rugby Men's 15s Team of the Decade: 2010–2019
• 6 Nations All-time Top try scorer: (26 tries)
• 6 Nations Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2009
• 6 Nations Top try scorer: 2009 (Tied with Riki Flutey)
• British & Irish Lions captain: 2005
• British & Irish Lions tourist: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013
• Heineken Cup Top try scorer: 2008–2009
• IRB International Player of the Year Shortlist: 2001, 2002, 2009
• ERC European Dream Team: 2010
• IRB International Try of the Year: 2008 (Australia v Ireland)
• IRUPA Players' Player of the Year: 2008–09
• Rugby World Magazine Player of the Decade: 2010
• Rugby World Magazine Team of the Decade: 2010
• RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award: 2014
• Dubliner of the Year Award: 2008
• RUWC Pat Marshall Memorial Award: 2009
• Texaco Sportstars Rugby Award: 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2009
• IRPA Special Merit Award: 2015
• VISA RWC Fan-tastic XV: 2003

Books by Brian O'Driscoll

• A Year in the Centre, 2005, Dublin, Penguin Books, Ltd ISBN: 1-84488-078-8
• The Test: My Autobiography, 2015, Dublin, Penguin Books, Ltd ISBN: 9780241962688

See also

In Spanish: Brian O'Driscoll para niños

• List of leading rugby union test try scorers
• List of international rugby union caps for Brian O'Driscoll