Jimmy O'Brien (rugby union)

Jimmy O'Brien (born 27 November 1996) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a back with Leinster Rugby.

For the Irish hurling player, see Jimmy O'Brien.

Jimmy O'Brien
Date of birth (1996-11-27) 27 November 1996
Place of birthEadestown, Kildare, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st; 200 lb)
SchoolNewbridge College
UniversityUniversity College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015– UCD ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Leinster 70 (104)
Correct as of 13 May 2023
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 Ireland U20 8 (0)
2022– Ireland 5 (0)
Correct as of 18 March 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2017–2018 Ireland 7s 7
Correct as of 19 December 2020

O'Brien was born in Eadestown in County Kildare, Ireland. He played in his school rugby with Newbridge College. Although he played fly-half at school, he moved to inside centre with the Leinster academy. His strengths in attack include a good kicking game, footwork, and passing, while in defence despite his lack of size he has a physical approach.[1]

International

With the Irish sevens team he generally played at centre, but also filled in at fly-half. O'Brien played for Ireland at the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier, scoring four tries, but Ireland lost to Japan 7–12 in the semifinal and consequently failed to qualify as a core team for the 2018-19 World Series.[2] O'Brien played for Ireland on the London and Paris legs of the 2017-18 World Rugby Sevens Series; in those tournaments, despite its non-core status, Ireland surprised by finishing third and seventh respectively, with O'Brien scoring four tries across the two tournaments.[3]

In February 2022 O'Brien was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship.[4] In June 2022, he was included in the Ireland squad for the 2022 tour of New Zealand.[5]

On 4 November 2022, he was called up as a late bench replacement to the named squad to face South Africa in the first test of the Autumn Series, following an injury to Robbie Henshaw whose starting place was taken by replacement Stuart McCloskey.[6] Following an injury to McCloskey in the first half, O'Brien made his test debut, playing 53 minutes in an Ireland victory.[7]

References
  1. "Six Leinster academy stars who are on course to make their mark for Leo Cullen's side", Independent, 19 July 2018.
  2. "Resurgent Ireland eyeing route one to elite club of Sevens World Series", South China Morning Post, Navzi Careem, 6 April 2018.
  3. "Ireland learning to love rugby sevens after 'amazing' run", CNN, George Ramsay, 15 June 2018.
  4. "Six Nations: James Lowe and uncapped Jimmy O'Brien called up to Ireland squad for Italy game". BBC. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. "Andy Farrell includes 5 uncapped players in 40-man Ireland squad to tour New Zealand". The 42. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  6. "Mccloskey to start as Henshaw ruled out". IRFU. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. "Farrell's Ireland down the world champion Boks on a magic night in Dublin". the42. Retrieved 6 November 2022.


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