Seán Kevin O'Brien (born 14 February 1987) is an Irish professional rugby union player and keen farmer from Carlow, Ireland. He plays provincial rugby for Leinster and club rugby for UCD. Alongside representing Ireland, O'Brien has also represented the British and Irish Lions. Many pundits, coaches and fans have touted him as one of the best players in the world of his generation having been one of Leinster and Ireland's most consistent standout performers over the past number of years. He is known as the "Tullow Tank" by Irish fans everywhere.
He is known for his barging runs, and ball carrying, with the IRB's Rugby News Service describing him as 'a rampaging ball of destruction He is also known for his speed, counter rucking, and defensive tackling. O'Brien is comfortable playing across the back row but has played most frequently at openside flanker for club and country.
He was selected to play for the British and Irish Lions for their 2013 tour to Australia and their 2017 tour to New Zealand. He made 1 test start in 2013 and started all 3 tests against the All Blacks in 2017. He narrowly lost out to Welsh team mate Jonathon Davies for player of the tour.
Video Seán O'Brien (rugby player)
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, keen to ensure they did not lose "The Tullow Tank", moved quickly and O'Brien agreed a new three-year deal with Leinster the following January.
O'Brien was in outstanding form for Leinster during the pool stages of the 2010-11 Heineken Cup, and he was an integral part of the team that beat Northampton Saints to win the 2011 Heineken Cup Final. Again scoring in 2012 O'Brien helped Leinster win the 2012 Heineken Cup Final scoring a try in the final as Leinster beat Ulster Rugby. In January 2014, O'Brien signed a new two-year deal with Leinster. On 21 December 2015, O'Brien signed a new three-year contract with Leinster.
Maps Seán O'Brien (rugby player)
Ireland and British and 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. He also came on as a replacement against South Africa in a 15-10 win on 28 November 2009. 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. 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. 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. 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 will be unable to play in the quarter-final, but will be available for any further games. On the 19th April 2017 O'Brien was announced on the British and Irish Lions squad. During the tour against New Zealand O'Brien scored in the Lions 15-30 defeat to the All Blacks. The tour ended a draw with 1 win and a draw to both sides.
Awards
On 25 May 2011, O'Brien was named ERC European Player of the Year following a season where Leinster were Heineken Cup champions. 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.
On 15 August 2011, O'Brien was awarded the Guinness/Rugby Writers of Ireland player of the year and received his award at a function in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
On 4 October 2011, O'Brien was named as the 'Player of Pool C' by the IRB.
O'Brien was also named, at Openside Flanker, on the Sydney Morning Herald's 'Team of the World Cup Pool Stages', alongside team mates Paul O'Connell and Cian Healy.
On 24 October 2011, the official Rugby World Cup website named O'Brien one of the tournament's 'Top Five Star Players.'
Personal life
In September 2014 he bought Bellamy's Pub in Ballsbridge with Leinster team mates Rob Kearney, David Kearney and Jamie Heaslip. After an extensive refurbishment it was reopened as "The Bridge 1859".
References
External links
- IRFU Profile
- Leinster Profile
- ESPNscrum profile
- UCD Profile
Source of article : Wikipedia
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