Donncha O'Callaghan

Donncha O'Callaghan
O'Callaghan playing for Munster.
Full name Donncha Fintan O'Callaghan
Date of birth (1979-03-24) 24 March 1979
Place of birth Cork, Ireland
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight 17 st 11 lb (113 kg)
School CBC Cork
University CIT
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Lock
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Cork Constitution
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1998–2015
2015–present		 Munster
Worcester Warriors		 268
22		 (40)
(5)
correct as of 5 May 2016.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2002–03
2003–13
2005, 2009
2014		 Ireland Wolfhounds
Ireland
British and Irish Lions
Barbarians		 7
94
4
1		 (0)
(5)
(0)
(0)
correct as of 2 Jun 2014.

Donncha O'Callaghan (born 24 March 1979 in Cork, Ireland) is an Irish rugby union player. He plays for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership and internationally he played for Ireland. He plays as a Lock.

Early career

O'Callaghan began his rugby education in Highfield Rugby Club, on the Model Farm Road in Cork. During the 1997–98 season he won a Schools Senior Cup with Christian Brothers College, Cork, beating St. Munchin's College, Limerick (a team including Jerry Flannery and Jeremy Staunton) in the final at Musgrave Park. The same year, he also played for the Irish Schoolboys team. The following year he was part of the U-19 World Championship winning team, along with Brian O'Driscoll and Paddy Wallace.

Munster

O'Callaghan made his Munster debut on 4 September 1998, starting against Ulster in an Irish Inter-Provincial match.[1]

He started for Munster in their 37–17 Celtic League Final victory against Neath on 1 February 2003.[2][3] O'Callaghan also started for Munster in their 27–16 Celtic Cup Final against Llanelli Scarlets on 14 May 2005.[4][5]

He was part of the Munster team that won the 2005–06 Heineken Cup, scoring a try in the win against Castres Olympique in the pool stage[6] He started for Munster in their 19–23 2006 Heineken Cup Final victory against Biarritz Olympique on 20 May 2006, O'Callaghan's and Munster's first European success.[7][8]

He scored a try after a 55m run in the first game of their Heineken Cup defence against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road Stadium.[9] He scored another try against Bourgoin at Thomond Park in their first home game since winning the Heineken Cup.[10]

O'Callaghan was also a part of the Munster team which won the 2007–08 Heineken Cup, starting the 16–13 2008 Heineken Cup Final victory against Toulouse on 24 May 2008.[11] He was also part of the Munster team that won the 2008–09 Celtic League.[12][13]

On 11 November 2010, O'Callaghan committed his future to the province when he signed a new three-year contract, finishing in 2014.[14] He started against Leinster in Munster's 19–9 2011 Magners League Grand Final victory on 28 May 2011.[15] O'Callaghan became the ninth Munster player to reach the 200-caps mark in the league game against Glasgow Warriors on 14 April 2012.[16] O'Callaghan signed a contract extension with Munster in November 2013, which will see him remain with the province until June 2016.[17] On 15 February 2014, O'Callaghan made history when he came off the bench for Munster against Zebre to earn his 241st cap, overtaking the record for Munster appearances previously held by Ronan O'Gara.[18][19] O'Callaghan was nominated for the IRUPA Medal for Excellence 2014 award on 23 April 2014.[20] He missed out on this award, but did win the inaugural Contribution to Society Award for his work with UNICEF.[21]

O'Callaghan captained Munster in their 13-14 defeat against Edinburgh on 5 September 2014.[22]

Worcester Warriors

On 3 September 2015, it was announced that O'Callaghan had been granted an early release from his Munster contract to join English Aviva Premiership side Worcester Warriors on a two-year contract.[23] On 5 December 2015, O'Callaghan received the first red card of his career during Worcester's game against Leicester Tigers.

Ireland

Ireland vs Georgia, 2007 Rugby World Cup, O'Callaghan on the far left

O'Callaghan made his international debut for Ireland on 22 March 2003, coming on as a replacement against Wales at the Millennium Stadium during the 2003 Six Nations Championship.[24][25]

He was selected in Ireland's squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup,[26] playing against Romania in the pool stage[27] and against Australia in the 17–16 defeat in the final pool game.[28]

O'Callaghan was part of the Ireland team that won the Triple Crown in the 2004 Six Nations Championship, Ireland's first Triple Crown in 19 years.[29]

He played in all of Ireland's 2005 Autumn Tests when Paul O'Connell was injured.[30][31][32]

He scored his first international try in a match against France in the 43–31 loss in Paris in the 2006 Six Nations Championship.[33] O'Callaghan was also part of the Ireland team that won further Triple Crown's in 2006 and 2007.[34][35]

O'Callaghan was part of the Irish team which won the Grand Slam in the 2009 Six Nations Championship, Ireland's first in 61 years.[36]

O'Callaghan featured in all of Ireland's tests in the 2009 November Tests, starting against Australia,[37] coming on as a replacement against Fiji[38] and starting the 15–10 victory against South Africa.[39]

He missed the first two games of the 2010 Six Nations Championship, but returned against England[40] and went on to start against Wales.[41] and Scotland.[42] O'Callaghan also started against New Zealand[43] and Australia[44] in Ireland's 2010 Summer Tests. He also started against South Africa in Ireland's opening game of the 2010 November Tests,[45] also starting against Samoa,[46] New Zealand[47] and Argentina.[48]

He started against Italy in Ireland's first game of the 2011 Six Nations Championship,[49] and went on to start against France,[50] Scotland,[51] Wales[52] and England.[53]

He was selected in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August,[54] starting both tests against France[55][56] and the test against England.[57] He was selected in the 30-man squad to go to New Zealand,[58] starting the pool stage victories against USA,[59] Australia,[60] Russia[61] and Italy,[62] and also starting the quarter-final defeat to Wales.[63]

O'Callaghan was selected in Ireland's 24-man squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship.[64] He started against Wales,[65]Italy,[66] France,[67] Scotland[68] and England.[69] O'Callaghan featured in all of Ireland's tests in the 2012 tour of New Zealand, coming off the bench in the first,[70] second[71] and third tests.[72] He also featured in the 2012 Autumn Tests against South Africa[73] and Argentina, earning his 90th cap for Ireland in the Argentina test.[74]

He was named in Ireland's training squad for the 2013 Six Nations Championship on 17 January 2013,[75] and came off the bench against Wales[76] and England.[77] An injury to Mike McCarthy meant that O'Callaghan was promoted to the starting XV for Ireland's game against Scotland on 24 February 2013.[78] McCarthy's return from injury relegated O'Callaghan to another bench appearance in the 13–13 draw with France.[79] O'Callaghan was then dropped from the international side, with Leinster's Devin Toner being preferred for the place on the bench against Italy.[80]

O'Callaghan was added to the Ireland squad for the 2013 Autumn Tests on 28 October 2013.[81] He was left out of the squad for the 2014 Six Nations Championship.

British and Irish Lions

O'Callaghan was selected in Sir Clive Woodward's squad for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand on 11 April 2005.[82] He started for the Lions in a test match against Argentina on 23 May 2005.[83] He started the 48–18 second test defeat alongside Munster and Ireland colleague Paul O'Connell.[84] He continued with O'Connell for the third test defeat as well.[85]

O'Callaghan was also selected in Sir Ian McGeechan's squad for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.[86] He captained the mid-week Lions team to victory over Southern Kings on 16 June 2009.[87] He came off the bench in the first test defeat, his only test appearance on the tour.[88]

Barbarians

O'Callaghan was selected in the Barbarians squad to play England on 26 May 2014.[89]

Personal life

O'Callaghan attended the Christian Brothers College, Cork. He is the cousin of the former Cork City F.C. footballer George O'Callaghan.

On 23 December 2009, O'Callaghan married his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Harte, at St. Columba's Church in Douglas, Cork.[90]

In August 2010, O'Callaghan's wife gave birth to their first child, a baby girl called Sophie. The couple welcomed their second daughter, Anna, in September 2012.[91] Their third daughter, Robin, was born in October 2013.[92]

O'Callaghan has been an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland since July 2009 and has made visits to South Africa,[93] Haiti,[94] Zimbabwe,[95] Lebanon,[96] and Syria[97] with UNICEF.

He released an autobiography in October 2011, called Joking Apart: My Autobiography.[98]

Honours

Munster

Ireland

British and Irish Lions

References

  1. ↑ "Ulster Rugby 29–12 Munster Rugby". munsterrugby.ie. 4 September 1998. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Munster Rugby 37–17 Neath". munsterrugby.ie. 1 February 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Victory! – Munster Crowned Celtic League Champions". munsterrugby.ie. 1 February 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Munster Rugby 27–16 Llanelli Scarlets". munsterrugby.ie. 14 May 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Celtic Cup Glory". munsterrugby.ie. 14 May 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Munster Rugby 42–16 Castres Olympique". munsterrugby.ie. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque 19–23 Munster Rugby". munsterrugby.ie. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Munster Crowned European Champions". munsterrugby.ie. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Munster make perfect start to Heineken defence". munsterrugby.ie. 22 October 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Five try Munster on song". munsterrugby.ie. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Munster Champions of Europe". munsterrugby.ie. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Magners is Munster's". munsterrugby.ie. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "Munster End in Style". munsterrugby.ie. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "O'Callaghan Puts His Faith & Future in Munster". munsterrugby.ie. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  15. ↑ "Munster Crowned Magners League Champions". munsterrugby.ie. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "O'Callaghan Joins Elite Club". munsterrugby.ie. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "O'Callaghan Commits Future To Munster Rugby". munsterrugby.ie. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "Munster Warrior To Break Record". munsterrugby.ie. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "O'Callaghan Breaks Record In Bonus-Point Win". munsterrugby.ie. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "Munster Nominees For 2014 IRUPA Awards". munsterrugby.ie. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "Three Wins At IRUPA Awards". munsterrugby.ie. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Munster Lose Opener To Edinburgh". munsterrugby.ie. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "O'Callaghan Bids Farewell". munsterrugby.ie. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Wales 24–25 Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 22 March 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "Dramatic Injury Time Win For Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 22 March 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  26. ↑ "Ireland World Cup Squad 2003". irishrugby.ie. 9 September 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  27. ↑ "First Job Done 'n' Dusted". irishrugby.ie. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Superb Irish Lose by a Point". irishrugby.ie. 1 November 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  29. ↑ "RBS Six Nations – Triple Crown Day in Dublin". irishrugby.ie. 27 March 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  30. ↑ "International: FT: Ireland 7 New Zealand 45". irishrugby.ie. 12 November 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  31. ↑ "Match Reaction: Ireland 14 Australia 30". irishrugby.ie. 21 November 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  32. ↑ "Match Reaction: Six-Try Salvo By Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  33. ↑ "Match Report: France 43 Ireland 31". irishrugby.ie. 13 February 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  34. ↑ "Match Reaction: England 24 Ireland 28". irishrugby.ie. 20 March 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  35. ↑ "Ireland Made To Sweat For Triple Crown Win". irishrugby.ie. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  36. ↑ "Ireland Are Grand Slam Champions!". irishrugby.ie. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  37. ↑ "O'Driscoll Try Snatches Late Draw For Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  38. ↑ "Ireland Run Out Comfortable Winners Over Fiji". irishrugby.ie. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  39. ↑ "Springboks Succumb To Inspired Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  40. ↑ "Twickenham Thriller Has Sweet Finish For Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 27 February 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  41. ↑ "Wales Brushed Aside By Three-Try Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  42. ↑ "Parks Helps Scotland Spoil Croke Park Finale". irishrugby.ie. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  43. ↑ "All Blacks Dominate Against 14-Man Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  44. ↑ "Australia 22 v 15 Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  45. ↑ "Late Rally Not Enough For Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  46. ↑ "Two-Try Ireland End Losing Run". irishrugby.ie. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  47. ↑ "All Blacks Prevail Despite Inspired Irish Display". irishrugby.ie. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  48. ↑ "Ireland Finish Series With Record Win Over Pumas". irishrugby.ie. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  49. ↑ "O'Gara Kicks Ireland To Nail-Biting Victory". irishrugby.ie. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  50. ↑ "Ireland Miss Out in Frantic Finish". irishrugby.ie. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  51. ↑ "Try Haul Helps Ireland Defeat Scotland". irishrugby.ie. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  52. ↑ "Ireland Beaten in Cardiff Cliffhanger". irishrugby.ie. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  53. ↑ "Super-Charged Ireland Storm To Victory". irishrugby.ie. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  54. ↑ "Ireland Training Squad Is Announced". irishrugby.ie. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  55. ↑ "Improved Second Half Sees Ireland Go Close". irishrugby.ie. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  56. ↑ "Late Surge Not Enough Against In-Form France". irishrugby.ie. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  57. ↑ "Two-Try England Get The Better of Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  58. ↑ "Ireland Rugby World Cup Squad Announcement". irishrugby.ie. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  59. ↑ "Ireland Off To Winning Start As Bowe Bags Brace". irishrugby.ie. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  60. ↑ "Inspired Ireland Create History in Auckland". irishrugby.ie. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  61. ↑ "Ireland Rack Up Tries in Rotorua Victory". irishrugby.ie. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  62. ↑ "Three-Try Ireland Go Through As Pool Winners". irishrugby.ie. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  63. ↑ "Ireland's World Cup Journey Ended By Wales". irishrugby.ie. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  64. ↑ "Ireland And O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Squads Announced". irishrugby.ie. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  65. ↑ "Late Heartbreak As Ireland Lose Six Nations Opener". irishrugby.ie. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  66. ↑ "Confidence-Boosting Display Gets Ireland Off The Mark". irishrugby.ie. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  67. ↑ "Bowe Brace Not Enough As Ireland Draw With France". irishrugby.ie. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  68. ↑ "Four-Try Ireland See Off Scottish Challenge". irishrugby.ie. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  69. ↑ "Six Nations: England 30–9 Ireland". BBC Sport. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  70. ↑ "Ireland Open Series With Auckland Defeat". irishrugby.ie. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  71. ↑ "Heartbreak in Christchurch For Heroic Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  72. ↑ "Ireland End Tour With Heavy Loss". irishrugby.ie. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  73. ↑ "Ireland Lose Tight Encounter With Springboks". irishrugby.ie. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  74. ↑ "Tries Flow As Ireland Pummel Pumas". irishrugby.ie. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  75. ↑ "Ireland Training Squad Announced". irishrugby.ie. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  76. ↑ "Cardiff Cracker Gets Ireland Up And Running". irishrugby.ie. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  77. ↑ "Penalties Decide It As Ireland Lose Brutal Contest". irishrugby.ie. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  78. ↑ "Six Nations: Scotland beat Ireland in Murrayfield turnaround". BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  79. ↑ "Six Nations 2013: France recover to draw with Ireland". BBC Sport. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  80. ↑ "RBS 6 Nations Preview: Italy v Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  81. ↑ "Three Players Added To Ireland Squad". irishrugby.ie. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  82. ↑ "Eleven Irish Included in Lions Squad". irishrugby.ie. 11 April 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  83. ↑ "Pumas Almost Pull Off Shock Cardiff Win". irishrugby.ie. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  84. ↑ "Lions Walloped in Wellington". irishrugby.ie. 2 July 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  85. ↑ "All Blacks Secure Test Whitewash". irishrugby.ie. 9 July 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  86. ↑ "British & Irish Lions Squad Announced". irishrugby.ie. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  87. ↑ "Lions Slug Out Sixth Tour Win Against Kings". irishrugby.ie. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  88. ↑ "Lions Run Out of Time in Durban". irishrugby.ie. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  89. ↑ "O'Callaghan To Line Out For Baa-Baas". munsterrugby.ie. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  90. ↑ "Rugby stars line out for Donncha's big day". independent.ie. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  91. ↑ "Donncha 'in a lovely spot' and geared to go". irishexaminer.com. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  92. ↑ "Busy father Donncha O'Callaghan: "You'd do anything for your kids"". independent.ie. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  93. ↑ "O'Callaghan Becomes UNICEF Ambassador". irishrugby.ie. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  94. ↑ "Donncha Visits Haiti With UNICEF". irishrugby.ie. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  95. ↑ "UNICEF Ireland Ambassador Donncha O'Callaghan Visits Zimbabwe". irishrugby.ie. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  96. ↑ "UNICEF Ambassador Donncha O'Callaghan Visits Lebanon". munsterrugby.ie. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  97. ↑ "Busy father Donncha O'Callaghan: "You'd do anything for your kids"". independent.ie. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  98. ↑ "Joking Apart: My Autobiography". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2013.

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Peter O'Mahony		 Munster captain
November 2014 		Succeeded by
Peter O'Mahony
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