Brian O'Driscoll facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the rugby union player. For the Gaelic footballer, see Brian O'Driscoll (Gaelic footballer). For the hurler, see Brian O'Driscoll (hurler). For the Federal Bureau of Investigation official, see Brian Driscoll.

Quick facts for kids

Brian O'Driscoll

O'Driscoll in 2007

Born

Brian Gerard O'Driscoll

21 January 1979 (age 46)

Dublin, Ireland

Spouse(s)

Amy Huberman

(m. 2010)

Children

Relatives

Frank O'Driscoll (father)
Barry O'Driscoll (cousin)
John O'Driscoll (cousin)

Rugby career

Height

1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Weight

93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)

School

Blackrock College

University

University College Dublin

Rugby union career

Senior career
Position(s)	Outside Centre
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. Many experts consider him one of the greatest rugby players of all time.

Brian O'Driscoll was captain for Ireland from 2003 to 2012. He also led the British & Irish Lions team on their tour of New Zealand in 2005. He played 141 international matches, which is one of the highest numbers in rugby history. He scored 46 tries for Ireland, making him Ireland's top try scorer ever. He also holds the record for most tries in the Six Nations Championship with 26.

After retiring from playing, O'Driscoll was added to the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016. He now works as a rugby expert for TV channels like BT Sport and ITV Sport.

Early Life and Rugby Beginnings
Playing for Leinster
Playing for Ireland
Playing for the British & Irish Lions
Awards and Recognition
Personal Life
Honours
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Rugby Beginnings

Brian O'Driscoll grew up in Clontarf, a part of Dublin. His parents were both doctors. His family had a strong connection to rugby. His father, Frank, played for Ireland, and his father's cousins, Barry and John O'Driscoll, also played for Ireland and the Lions.

As a child, Brian first played Gaelic football. He started playing rugby more seriously when he went to Blackrock College at age 12. He played for the school's senior team in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, he was part of the Ireland Under-19 team that won the Under 19 Rugby World Championship.

After school, he studied at University College Dublin (UCD). He played for the UCD rugby team and later for the Ireland Under-21 team.

Playing for Leinster

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 title.

10 November 2007. Leinster Rugby playing against Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup.

In 2005, O'Driscoll became Leinster's captain. He led the team to many important victories. In 2008, Leinster won the Magners League title.

The 2008–09 season was very successful for Leinster. Even though O'Driscoll passed the captaincy to Leo Cullen, he was still a vital player. Leinster reached the Heineken Cup final in 2009. They won the final against Leicester Tigers 19–16, with O'Driscoll scoring a drop goal despite a shoulder injury. This was his first Heineken Cup win.

O'Driscoll won his second Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2011. They beat Northampton 33–22 in a thrilling final. In 2012, he won his third Heineken Cup, as Leinster defeated Ulster 42–14.

Brian O'Driscoll announced in 2013 that the 2013–14 season would be his last. His final game for Leinster was on 31 May 2014. Leinster won the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final against the Glasgow Warriors 34–12. He helped his captain, Leo Cullen, lift the Pro12 trophy, ending his amazing career.

Playing for Ireland

Brian O'Driscoll played his first international match for Ireland on 12 June 1999, when he was just 20 years old. In 2000, he scored three tries against France in Paris, helping Ireland win there for the first time since 1972.

In 2002, O'Driscoll captained Ireland for the first time in a win against Australia. In 2003, he became Ireland's permanent captain. He led Ireland to win the Triple Crown in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2009.

In 2009, O'Driscoll led Ireland to win the Six Nations Championship and their first Grand Slam in 61 years. He was named the Player of the Championship for his outstanding performance.

B.O'D. captaining Ireland against Georgia during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

On 26 June 2010, O'Driscoll became Ireland's most-capped player, playing his 103rd match. In the 2011 Six Nations, he broke the record for most tries scored in the Championship, reaching 25 tries.

He missed the 2012 Six Nations due to shoulder surgery. When he returned, Jamie Heaslip took over as captain, but O'Driscoll continued to play a key role.

On 8 March 2014, in his last home international match for Ireland, O'Driscoll led the team against Italy. Ireland won 46–7, and he was named Man of the Match. In this game, he also set a new world record for the most international caps, with 140.

His very last international match was on 15 March 2014, in the final game of the 2014 Six Nations Championship. Ireland beat France in Paris, winning the Six Nations title. O'Driscoll said it was the perfect way to end his international career.

Playing for the British & Irish Lions

O'Driscoll was chosen for the British & Irish Lions team on four tours. He played in all three Test matches during the 2001 tour of Australia. He became a global star with an amazing try in the first Test.

He was named captain for the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand. However, his tour ended early in the first Test match. He suffered a dislocated shoulder after being tackled by two All Blacks players. Even though he couldn't play, he stayed with the team as non-playing captain.

O'Driscoll was also part of the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa and the 2013 tour to Australia. He is one of only three players in 125 years to go on four Lions tours. He was controversially not selected for the final Test match of the 2013 tour, which the Lions went on to win.

Awards and Recognition

Brian O'Driscoll has received many awards throughout his career:

He was nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year award three times (2001, 2002, 2009).
He was chosen as the Player of the Tournament in the Six Nations Championship in 2006, 2007, and 2009.
In 2010, Rugby World magazine voted him the World Rugby Player of the Decade (2000–09).
He has received honorary degrees from several universities in Ireland.
In 2014, he received the RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award.

Personal Life

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

He has written two books about his rugby career: A Year in the Centre (2005) and The Test: My Autobiography (2015).

After retiring from rugby, O'Driscoll became a rugby expert and commentator for TV and radio. He is a supporter of the English football club Manchester United F.C..