Mullingar’s Conor O’Brien retires from professional rugby
Mullingar man and Leinster rugby star Conor O’Brien has announced that he is retiring from professional rugby with immediate effect due to injury.
O’Brien (26) has played 24 times for Leinster at senior level since making his debut against Glasgow Warriors in the 2017/18 season.
He made a huge impact for the province the following season, making his Champions Cup debut and scoring six tries, but a hamstring injury put paid to further progress.
The Mullingar RFC alumnus hasn’t played for Leinster since last October.
“It’s a very difficult decision to make or more to the point, a very difficult conversation to have with the medics but over the last few years we left no stone unturned in Leinster Rugby to try to get myself back to where I felt I should be,” he told LeinsterRugby.ie.
“I’d like to wholeheartedly thank my physiotherapist Karl Denvir and the team doctor, Prof John Ryan for all their help.
“There are so many highs as an athlete but definitely there are lows as well and the team off the pitch of doctors and physios are brilliant because they pick us up from our lowest, time and time again. I can’t thank them enough.
“Of course, I’d love for it to have continued and I was hopeful that maybe with a bit of luck the injuries would heal but they haven’t.
“There are so many players that started out that journey with me. Making those trips up for Shane Horgan Cup trials with their Areas. And how many get to play for their Area? Then get to play for Leinster at any level so to pull on the Leinster jersey 24 times is something that I will be forever thankful for and that I am very proud of.
“I was always very conscious of who I was playing for. For Mullingar RFC. For my Area. For Westmeath. For the wider province. My family and friends. It really did mean a lot to me and it means a lot to all the players in there.
“I am very grateful to everyone in Mullingar RFC, especially Tony Doolin, Mick Lambe and Sean Óg Brennan for their support and then Leo, Stuart, Felipe and all the staff and players at the club. The injuries aside, I’ve loved every minute of my time at a special club.
“To my mam, Mary and dad, Garrett, my brother Séan, sisters Aoife and Sadhbh and girlfriend, Katie, thank you for keeping me going and keeping me focused and positive over the last few years and for your support and your love.”
O’Brien, who holds an economics degree from UCD, is taking up a role with Dublin-based digital transformation company Tekenable.
His head coach at Leinster, Leo Cullen, paid tribute to the Mullingar-born centre.
“Conor burst onto the scene a few years ago and made his debut in Glasgow and he is a credit to Mullingar RFC and his family for how he has represented them all over the last few seasons,” he said.
“It’s great to hear that he has his next move sorted and that is a credit to him and how he kept up his education while playing with Leinster.”
O'Brien represented Westmeath in Gaelic football up to minor level and played in an All-Ireland MFC quarter-final against Mayo in 2013.