020 8914 8966
020 8914 8966
Paul O’Connell is an Irish rugby union player and former Ireland captain. He also captained Munster and the British and Irish Lions. Paul is the current Ireland forwards coach.
It was in 2001 when Paul O’Connell made his debut playing with Munster in a Celtic League match against Edinburgh. His debut with Ireland came a year later when they played against Wales in the Six Nations. In the match Paul took a hard knock as he tried to tackle Craig Quinnell, almost knocking himself unconscious in the first half. He said he didn’t remember much of the next 25 minutes despite scoring a try and he only came round a few minutes before the end of the first half.
After two tries during a World Cup warm up game in 2003 over Wales, he was awarded a place in Ireland’s 2003 World Cup team. The following year he was Ireland’s Captain in the Six Nations.
Paul O’Connell was nominated for the Player of the Year by the International Rugby Board in 2006. Later in 2007 he was the Man of the Match after Ireland’s win over England in Dublin.
Munster was constantly in the frame with Paul eventually becoming Captain in 2007. He then took Munster to their 2nd Heineken Cup victory over Toulouse and the following year he took Munster to the top of the Celtic League. Another year gone by and it’s 2009 with Paul now Captain of the British & Irish Lions for their South Africa tour.
Injuries:
Between 2010 and 2013 Paul suffered a number of injuries which took him off the pitch. He missed a number of matches in 2010 due to a groin injury. Later he sustained a knee injury and in 2012, a back injury which eventually required surgery. To cap it all, he fractured his arm in 2013 when playing against Australia and ended up finishing the tour as a coach. Was this the shape of things to come for Paul O’Connell?
TV, Radio & Media:
Paul is now a regular pundit and presenter on BBC. He has covered a number of Six Nation Championships and Rugby World Cups.
Paul O’Connell’s book The Battle was published in 2016. Winner of the Cross Sports Book Awards Rugby book of the year.
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