Latest news with #BrianO'Driscoll
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Rugby stars, Leaving Cert grinds, lewd jokes and a High Court case
The private grinds industry in Ireland is booming, and is estimated to be worth between €50-€60m. Investors, including well-known names like Brian O'Driscoll and Caelan Doris, have been keen to get in on the action, as the pair did when they helped fund hybrid learning platform Grinds 360 last year. But the competition in the grinds world can be just as intense as it is on the rugby pitch, and sometimes notably bitter. Take the case of respected maths teacher Rob Browne, whose high-profile transfer from the Dublin Academy of Education to Grinds 360 led to a contentious dispute that landed in the High Court where, among other things, a lewd joke made on TikTok was under scrutiny. On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Sunday Independent journalist Mark Tighe, to discuss this unusual legal battle.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leinster youngster to emulate Brian O'Driscoll historic feat this summer
Stephen Smyth has made just four appearances for Leinster, all of them this season as a sub, and been on the pitch for a grand total of sixty-five next game will be for Ireland in either Georgia or Portugal in which point the 20 year-old hooker will become the first player to play for Ireland without having started for his province since Brian O'Driscoll made his debut against Australia in has been some week for Smyth, who is still a First Year Academy trainee at the Blues and who started the season as, technically, their SIXTH choice hooker and who was the very, very last to know he was selected. Smyth was in Australia on an Academy sabbatical/leadership course with Rugby League outfit Melbourne Storm - a plane ticket/summons home came in the same email as 'congratulations you have been selected...'.As for being down the pecking order at Leinster, no shame there as both Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher were established Ireland stars and, indeed, are going on the Lions Tour this McCarthy was so established Andy Farrell capped him in the November 2024 Series while John McKee and Lee Barron had both made 2022 debuts for the the 2024/25 newbie at Leinster had caught the eye at almost every representative level on the way up culminating in playing Six Nations, World Championships for Ireland U21 and Old Wesley in the AIL through 2023/ the previous parts of his resume which included such as captaining Leinster Schools, playing Ireland U18, captaining Ireland U19 in Japan were impressive the more for Smyth having started his rugby as a centre, moved to no8 and has only latterly converted to hooker."Somebody of his size profile, probably was always going to end up in the pack," says Old Wesley coach Morgan Lennon with whom the hooker has prospered."He's made remarkable strides, it's not obvious to most people that he has only transitioned to hooker two years ago when he came out of school where he was a no8."Like anybody who's picking up the situation at that stage, throwing was the biggest challenge because he'd always been a good ball-carrier, good defender."From the minute I came across him, when he came out of school and made the decision to come to us he always had the raw materials, the size-profile."When you look at him he looks very like a Dan Sheehan or a Ronan Kelleher, he's got that physical profile, six foot two, six foot three, 14 kilos and he's dynamic, quick, powerful."Switching position in rugby doesn't have to be traumatic, Brian O'Driscoll was a scrum-half in school, Denis Leamy was a place-cking centre at school it is just that anyone switching to hooker has a whole new responsibility, throwing into the BOD's case he was playing AIL for UCd when called up by Warren Gatland for the 1999 Australia tour, making his debut at 19 years, four months and 21 days and who would make his Six Nations debut in 2000, a campaign in which he would score his famous Paris hat-trick. "It was the throwing that was always going to be the thing that was going to separate him, that was going to cause some problems and he would be the first to admit he's worked incredibly hard on that."He struggled during the first Ireland U20s campaign when he first came out of school and couldn't really get in."There was a lot of talk about him and I was kind of being told about him, the background noises that he was not going to get to be a pro, but his throwing came on incredibly between the end of the U20 Six Nations and the U20 World Cup."Then, obviously, there was a couple of injuries which meant he started a lot of the games in the 20s World Cup and he's just gone on an upward trajectory since then."That's in part as former Leinster hooker Aaron Dundon (2010-16) is Line-out Coach at Welsey."It's funny because myself and Aaron, we've talked about quite a bit around Stevie and the thing about him is that Aaron would always say that a hooker has to be throwing regularly in game situations, and he has thrown regularly with us."It didn't always go our way, there were times where we were playing AIL and it was like 'Oh my god, we're never going to win him out here'."But he has shown he has the playing capacity and the mental capacity to not let that get into his overall game and I think he also matured a huge amount in two years, he obviously growing from a boy to a man not just on the physical side but mentally too."Smyth, says Lennon, has proved himself remarkably committed to Wesley who are, don't forget an amateur side."Stevie and Billy Corrigan who is also at Leinster and still U20s have been brilliant for us, so good that at 20/21 years they are part of our leadership group."Their contribution here has been excellent whether it is making it to all our training sessions in the evenings even if they have been with Leinster or the U20s in the morning, picking up cones or chatting to the lads."So I'd imagine there will be more for Stevie to pick up while on tour with Ireland, he'll have an exposure to different coaches and while I don't know I would expect Stevie to be able to relate to Paul O'Connell, I think they'll have some common ground."Those who have seen Smyth in action this season for Leinster are hardly legion, there has just been Connacht away (7 mins, Nov), home to Lions (2 mins, Nov), home to Cardiff (23 minutes, March) and away to Bulls (33 mins, March).And while the immediate future is clear, touring and hopefully picking up an Ireland cap, it may be that, given the number of top-flight hookers queuing at Leinster there will be some David Humphreys-style thinning was loaned to Munster for the latter part of this season with the move now full-time and this week's appointment of Stuart Lancaster to Connacht comes with the suggestion there will be a 'loan superhighway' set up between the western and eastern and Kelleher won't be going anywhere but if the question is whether Lancaster will be able to capture one of McCarthy, McKee or Smyth - either full-time or on loan - the answer is almost certainly 'yes'.
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brian O'Driscoll makes big calls as he names his Lions starting team
Brian O'Driscoll has named seven Irish players in his starting XV for the British and Irish Lions Test side. Lions head coach Andy Farrell named a 38-man squad for their tour of Australia this summer, including 15 Irish players. And there has been much talk this week of how the Lions might line out for their opening test against Australia on 19 July. Now former Ireland and Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll has named his XV for the opening clash with some surprising omissions and inclusions. Speaking to TNT Sports, O'Driscoll has named Irish pair Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan in his front row, but there is no place for Tadhg Furlong at number three. Instead O'Driscoll has opted for Scotland's Zander Fagerson. The second row partnership of tour captain Maro Itoje and Munster captain Tadhg Beirne looks strong, while Leinster's Josh van der Flier joins English pair Tom Curry and Henry Pollock in O'Driscoll's back row. Jamison Gibson-Park was an easy decision for O'Driscoll at scrum-half, and he has chosen Scotland's Finn Russell at out-half ahead of Finn Smith. Leinster winger James Lowe gets a spot, while Garry Ringrose is being tipped by O'Driscoll to start at outside centre. There is no place in the starting team for Hugo Keenan. Instead Scotland's Blair Kinghorn gets the nod at full-back. In total, O'Driscoll's team is comprised of seven Irish players, four English players and four Scottish players. Brian O'Driscoll's Lions XV 1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Zander Fagerson 4. Maro Itoje 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Tom Curry 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Henry Pollock 9. Jamison Gibson-Park 10. Finn Russell 11. James Lowe 12. Sione Tuipulotu 13. Garry Ringrose 14. Tommy Freeman 15. Blair Kinghorn
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside Leinster Rugby's black tie awards gala where icon Brian O'Driscoll received huge career honour
LEINSTER'S stars may not have felt in the party mood, but they still dressed to the nines as they attended their end of season awards. With the taste of Saturday's Advertisement 8 Retiring Cian Healy was presented with a special cap to honour his years of service to the province 8 Jordie Barrett and long-term girlfriend Alice Marshall will soon be bidding farewell to Ireland as he returns to New Zealand 8 Club legend Brian O'Driscoll was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame on the night 8 Sam Prendergast is one of several Irish players hoping to be named in Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad tomorrow RG Snyman's first season in blue has Reflecting his consistent availability and excellence across the URC and Champions Cup, he scooped the Men's Player of the Year gong. Linda Djougang took the Women's equivalent home after a campaign where the prop has Brian O'Driscoll was among the guestlist as the club's longtime talisman was inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport It may have been a slightly awkward case of scheduling since the event came mere hours after Among his gripes, he suggested Jordie Barrett should have started at centre over He told "Robbie wasn't having a terrible day but what Jordie Barrett has brought to the club, the performances he has had, the punch he gives is another dimension to Robbie's game. That is the reality. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "I thought he was very good when he came on and he gave that go forward and brought that huge physicality. "It is something that they are going to have to live with and the criticism is fair because I think they got it wrong. Shocking moment enormous brawl breaks out in rubgy league after 'horrendous hit' "I've seen so much written about hands being tied around playing both players together and it is a tricky one having two international centres and bringing in an All-Black centre. "But the reality is I think when it comes to semi-finals and finals, you have to pick your very best players in form. Advertisement "What must he have been thinking while the game was playing on, thinking I am not out there and I could really be doing a job. "Are we saying that it would have been different had he been out there? We will never know, but play your best players." 8 Women's Player of the Year Linda Djougang is a similarly vital member of the national team 8 On arrival are from left to right, Fiona Dickson, Leah Tarpey, Aimee Clarke, Lauren Sweeney, Molly Boyne, Kirstie Stevenson, Ailsa Hughes, Aine Rowe and Alice Rowe Advertisement 8 Ross Byrne will be departing for pastures new this summer as he's agreed to join English Premiership side Gloucester 8 Healy will retire as the all-time leader in appearances for Leinster (289) and Ireland (137) The All Black was not the only high-profile replacement, with The Ireland prop was eventually introduced for Advertisement He added: "I must say Andrew Porter not starting for me doesn't make sense either. He is a 75 minute international regularly. "What he brings you in the loose is phenomenal. I am not saying that just because Cian missed the jump on the [Will] Freeman first try. "Play your best team up front. I have never been of that mindset around we need to be loaded for the second-half. "It is easy retrospectively to say they had 12 points to catch up in the second-half and it is a lot of work to do and they do win the second-half 19-10 or whatever it was but don't put yourself in that position in the first place. Advertisement "Leinster have put teams out of sight a lot by playing their best team. "I am not saying they were going to do that against Northampton but I have never been a subscriber to holding back better players on a bench and I don't think I ever will be."
Extra.ie
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
In Pics: Leinster stars and their other halves stun as BOD picks up major gong
Leinster players both past and present donned their best suits for their annual awards ball on Tuesday night. The team suffered heartbreak last week following a controversial loss to Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-final. Just days later however, the team's players, WAGs and a few legends were on hand to celebrate their season. RG Snyman and his wife Saskia. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile RG Snyman was named Leinster's Men's Player of the Year at the awards ceremony, while Linda Djougang won top honours for the Women's team. Departing players, from left, Jordie Barrett, Rob Russell and Liam Turner are interviewed by MC Joe Molloy during the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Several departing players were also honoured at the gala on Tuesday; with Cian Healy, who's retiring at the end of the season, receiving a moment of note. Guinness Hall of Fame award winner Brian O'Driscoll is interviewed during the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Brian O'Driscoll was also honoured with an induction into the Guinness Hall of Fame at the ball — with he and his wife Amy Huberman donning their best glad rags for the ceremony. Sam Prendergast and Anna Walsh. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Sam Prendergast won Young Player of the Year after his breakthrough season in the first team. He also took home the award for Try of the Year. Brian O'Driscoll is presented with the Guinness Hall of Fame award by Rory Sheridan of Diageo Ireland, right, and Leinster Rugby president Declan Gardiner during the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Paul Deering took home his Never Stop Competing, Contribution to Leinster Rugby Award, while Tania Rosser was also honoured for her time as head coach of the women's team after winning back to back titles. More photos from the Leinster Rugby Awards Ball can be seen below James Culhane and Jessica Maxwell. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Scott Penny and Susan Ryan. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Josh van der Flier and his wife Sophie. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Tommy O'Brien and Zoe Connolly. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Charlie Tector and Radinka Pratt. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Sean O'Brien and Elly Selley. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Hugo Keenan and Emma Hempenstall. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Jamison Gibson-Park and Patti Grogan. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Jamison Gibson-Park, Saskia Snyman, Patti Grogan and RG Snyman. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Luke McGrath and Rebecca Tarrant. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Cian Healy and his wife Laura. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Ross Byrne and India Healy-O'Connor. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Jordie Barrett and Alice Marshall. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile On arrival are from left to right, Fiona Dickson, Leah Tarpey, Aimee Clarke, Lauren Sweeney, Molly Boyne, Kirstie Stevenson, Ailsa Hughes, Aine Rowe and Alice Rowe; at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Laura Byrne, Sharon Woods and Bebhinn Dunne on arrival at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Melinda Earls and Stephen Roche on arrival at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Caspar Gabriel and Hannah Morgan on arrival at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Niall Smyth, Julie Breslin, Hannah Morgan and Caspar Gabriel on arrival at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Rory McGuire and Rosa Thapa on arrival at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Liam Molony and Sophie Metchette on arrival at the Leinster Rugby awards ball 2025 at O'Reilly Hall in UCD, Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
