Brian O'Driscoll

Brian Gerald O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979 in Dublin) is the current captain of the Irish rugby union national team and was the captain of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005. He is an Outside Centre who plays club rugby for Leinster. He is also known as BOD or Drico.

Related Topics:
21 January - 1979 - Dublin - Irish - Rugby union - National team - British and Irish Lions - New Zealand - 2005 - Outside Centre - Leinster

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Educated at Blackrock College, O'Driscoll made his first appearance for Ireland in 1999, and established himself as one of rugby's most dangerous ball-carriers by his ability to cut through defences and create space for his supporting runners.

Related Topics:
Blackrock College - 1999

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He became so popular in Ireland that many supporters donned T-shirts bearing the motto "In BOD We Trust" (a play on "In God We Trust", the phrase that appears on all United States currency and coinage). In 2003, following the international retirement of longtime Ireland captain Keith Wood, he was awarded the captaincy and led Ireland to a second-place finish in the Six Nations and to a Triple Crown.

Related Topics:
In God We Trust - United States - Currency - Coinage - 2003 - Keith Wood - Six Nations - Triple Crown

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O'Driscoll also appeared in all three British and Irish Lions tests on the team's 2001 tour of Australia. On April 11th 2005, O'Driscoll was named captain of the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. In advance of that tour he had been named captain of the Northern Hemisphere side for the IRB Rugby Aid Match, a 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami fundraiser held at Twickenham in March 2005, but was forced to withdraw due to an elbow injury; however, he did appear at pitchside for the match.

Related Topics:
British and Irish Lions - 2001 - Tour of Australia - 2005 - Tour of New Zealand - IRB Rugby Aid Match - 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami - Fundraiser - Twickenham

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On his second Lions tour, O'Driscoll's playing contribution was finished in the opening minutes of the first Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch on 25 June 2005. He was stretchered off the field after suffering a dislocated shoulder. The injury was inflicted at the clearing out of a ruck, when Tana Umaga (captain of the All Blacks) and Keven Mealamu combined to upend the Lions captain, driving him headfirst into the ground; O'Driscoll extended one arm to save his neck but still landed heavily, suffering a dislocation of his shoulder. So severe was the injury that medical personnel required half an hour to put the joint back in place. At the time the incident seems to have been anticipated by one of the serving touch judges; but the independent citing commissioner found that the New Zealand players had no case to answer. However, both All Black players were criticised for what most British fans and commentators considered a dishonourable 'spear tackle'. Although unable to play, O'Driscoll remained as non-playing captain on a losing tour and only underwent surgery on his return.

Related Topics:
All Blacks - Christchurch - 25 June - 2005 - Dislocated - Shoulder - Tana Umaga - Keven Mealamu - Spear tackle

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According to newspaper speculation of September 2005, O'Driscoll was preparing to leave Irish provincial rugby and agree a contract to play in France, as his contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) expires at the end of the 2005-06 season. Various reports have linked him with a possible move to Biarritz or Toulouse in 2006. The IRFU quickly announced that they would do all they could to keep him in Ireland.

Related Topics:
Irish Rugby Football Union - Biarritz - Toulouse

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