Brian O'Driscoll

A week in which Denis Leamy became the third Munster international forward to retire recently from the game because of recurring injury brought to mind some decidedly prescient remarks by Brian O'Driscoll. Speaking at this time in 2009 about the physical demands of the professional game, he said: "We don't yet know how long a career a player can have, but the demands on the body are increasing all the time.  

TWO of Leinster’s Heineken Cup winners received honours on Monday when Rob Kearney was named as the ERC European player of the year and Brian O’Driscoll was reinstated as Ireland’s captain for their tour of New Zealand next month.  

Now that Brian O’Driscoll and his Leinster team-mates have sealed their status as the greatest force in the history of European club rugby, a maiden double is in their sights, then next summer they are poised to have a suitably major impact with the Lions.  

Ulster prop Declan Fitzpatrick and hooker Mike Sherry of Munster were included up front while Sherry's team-mate winger Simon Zebo was in the backs, alongside Ulster centre Darren Cave, who won two caps on Ireland's north America tour three years ago.  

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Brian O'Driscoll believes Leinster are building a dynasty after they won a record-breaking third Heineken Cup title in four years when they beat Ulster 42-14 in the all-Ireland final at Twickenham. First-half tries by Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy put ...  

Brian O'Driscoll was making what was probably his final appearance at Twickenham, one of the leading players not just of his generation but the history of the game, defying injury to help inspire a complete team to a third Heineken Cup success in four years.  

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named a 29-man squad for next month's tour of New Zealand and re-appointed Brian O'Driscoll as his captain. O'Driscoll missed the entire Six Nations as he recovered from shoulder surgery and recently underwent key-hole ...  

Brian O'Driscoll believes the first all-Irish Heineken Cup final can only have a positive effect on his next big mission - tackling world champions New Zealand. Ireland will head to All Blacks country for Test matches in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton ...  

Brian O’Driscoll then put fear into the rest of Europe by insisting their period of dominance had only just begun. But Davies said the British and Irish Lions, who play the Wallabies next summer Down Under, were the real winners. He said: “We should ...  

WE WENT all existential on Brian O’Driscoll late Saturday night. What keeps you keeping on? Is it the landmarks or is it more human than that, asked one of the elder scribes. “Nah, it’s medals.” It’s just medals? “Yep. Trophies and medals.”  

Rugby:The injury prognosis for the Leinster squad ahead of the Heineken Cup Final against Ulster at Twickenham on Saturday is that Gordon, D’Arcy, Cian Healy, Rob Kearney are expected to be fit while the news regarding Brian O’Driscoll is encouraging. He underwent keyhole surgery on his knee last Friday and the portents are positive.  

Leinster face an anxious wait to find out if talismanic centre Brian O'Driscoll will be fit for Saturday's ... he will be up fully and running by Thursday," explained coach Joe Schmidt. "He is one of the most resilient men I have met and one of the most ...  

Brian O'Driscoll was speaking last night at the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce dinner in the Titanic Belfast building where he told nearly 800 guests the value of teamwork in achieving results. "There are huge parallels between business and sport ...  

"Obviously the Heineken Cup final is coming up but our focus has been on this weekend." Kearney, along with Brian O'Driscoll, will miss the game with Glasgow through minor injuries - with the newly-crown Irish Rugby Union Players' Association ...