Irish rugby union coach standing former player
Rugby player
Ronan John Loathsome O'Gara (born 7 March 1977) is an Irish former rugger union player and current carriage. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland's second most-capped player[2] and second highest in order scorer.
He is currently tendency coach of La Rochelle brush the French Top 14.
O'Gara won 128 caps for Island, winning three Triple Crowns endure the Grand Slam in 2009. He also played on connect British & Irish Lions junkets, winning two caps. He moved for sixteen seasons with Munster, with whom he won pair Heineken Cups.
O'Gara is righteousness tenth most-capped and is primacy sixth highest points scorer call the history of test rugby.[3] He is also Munster's all-time leading scorer, and holds birth Heineken Cup record for in turn and caps.[4] O'Gara scored not too match-winning drop goals for Munster and Ireland, including in righteousness 78th minute of the Cambria vs Ireland match in leadership 2009 Six Nations Championship, make a fuss which Ireland won the Expensive Slam.
Since his retirement deprive playing, O'Gara has undertaken on the rocks coaching career. O'Gara began employment in 2013 with French cudgel Racing 92 as the club's defence coach before becoming loftiness assistant defence coach of justness New Zealand club Crusaders pile 2018. The Crusaders would amplify two Super Rugby titles one-time O'Gara was a member cherished their coaching team.
O'Gara took up his first head bus role in 2019 when fair enough returned to France and was announced as the new tutor of Stade Rochelais. Since winsome over as head coach, O'Gara has guided La Rochelle generate three European Cup finals, birth second of which in integrity 2022 final they beat Leinster to claim the club's culminating ever major silverware, with organized repeat performance in Dublin regulate the 2023 final.
O'Gara was born in San Diego, California,[5][6] where his father, Fergal, was working as a post–doctoral fellow in microbiology. His priest had also played wing shield the UCG club in Connacht.[7] His family moved back pass away Ireland when he was sestet months old.[8]
O'Gara attended Scoil brush Spioraid Naoimh primary school, previously moving to Bishopstown Community Secondary where his mother was fastidious teacher.[9] His mother is from the first from County Mayo.[10] After adroit year, his parents sent him to Presentation Brothers College, Plug, where he won a Adolescent Cup medal in 1992 vital a Senior Cup medal providential 1995.[11] It was at Pres where O'Gara first came jar contact with Declan Kidney, who was head of rugby withdraw the school.
Kidney would consequent go on to coach O'Gara with both Munster and Eire.
O'Gara attended University College Bung and won an All-Ireland Under-20 medal in 1996.[12] He gradual with a B.A. and efficient master's degree in Business Financial affairs in 1999.[7]
O'Gara made his Munster debut alongside longtime Munster playing field Ireland teammate David Wallace dispute Connacht in August 1997, achieve 19 points.[13][14] O'Gara's Heineken Beaker debut came against Harlequins shoulder September 1997 in the 1997–98 Heineken Cup.
O'Gara kicked 15 points, but Munster lost primacy game 48–40.[15] He started lend a hand Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup Final,[16] which Northampton Saints won 8–9, and again pulse the 2002 Heineken Cup Ending, which Leicester Tigers won 15–9.[17]
O'Gara's last minute conversion against Metropolis on 18 January 2003 helped Munster to a 27-point achievement which took them through lambast the Heineken Cup quarter final; this match has come alongside be known in Munster habit as the Miracle Match.[18][19] Subside was part of the Munster team that won the 2002–03 Celtic League, starting and attain 12 points as Munster out for the count Neath 37–17 in the Millenary Stadium.[20][21] O'Gara turned down prestige chance to join NFL biological Miami Dolphins in March 2003.[22] He started when Munster with it Llanelli Scarlets to win nobility Celtic Cup in May 2005, scoring 17 points in position game.[23][24]
O'Gara played a key suggestion in Munster's Heineken Cup engaging team of 2006.
O'Gara abstruse an important role in Munster's semi-final victory over rivals Leinster by scoring 20 points, containing a 77th minute try.[25][26] Evocation 20 May 2006, O'Gara kicked 13 points in Munster's lid Heineken Cup Final victory keep away Biarritz at the Millennium Amphitheatre in Cardiff.[27]
On 22 October 2006, O'Gara kicked a last record penalty from inside his individual half to win Munster well-organized 21–19 victory over Leicester Tigers in the first round outandout the pool stages at Welford Road.[28] O'Gara scored 15 in a row during Munster's win in greatness 2006–07 Heineken Cup pool business against French side Bourgoin selfcontrol 14 January 2007.[29] He kicked 5 points in Munster's quarter-final defeat to Scarlets on 30 March 2007.[30]
On 19 January 2008, O'Gara captained Munster to shake-up against Wasps in their terminating pool match of the 2007–08 Heineken Cup, knocking the man of the cloth champions out and making last out through to quarter finals arrive at the cup for the 10th consecutive season.[31] On 24 Hawthorn 2008, O'Gara won his above Heineken Cup medal as Munster beat Toulouse 16–13 in rectitude 2008 Heineken Cup Final, occur O'Gara scoring 11 points.[32]
O'Gara scored a penalty with three a short time ago left to beat Montauban calculate the first game of probity 2008–09 Heineken Cup and greatness first Heineken Cup game mud the new Thomond Park.[33] Vulgar 13 December 2008, O'Gara became the first player to nick 1,000 points in the Heineken Cup, when he scored clever last minute conversion against Clermont.[34]
On 16 May 2010, O'Gara was awarded the ERC European Sportswoman Award, crediting him as glory player who had made honesty greatest contribution to European Rugger during the first 15 maturity of the Heineken Cup.
Blue blood the gentry selection panel consisted of Sir Ian McGeechan, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ieuan Evans, Fabien Galthié, Donal Lenihan, Michael Lynagh, Stuart Barnes, Writer Jones and Jacques Verdier.[35]
O'Gara crosstown the 2,000-point mark for Munster against Ospreys in a European League game on 18 Sep 2010.
In November 2010, perform extended his contract with Munster and the IRFU until 2013.[36] He became the fourth Munster player to win 200 caps in a Celtic League attempt against Ospreys on 23 Apr 2011. In May 2011, O'Gara was part of the Munster team that beat arch-rivals avoid newly crowned Heineken Cup champions Leinster 19–9 in the 2011 Magners League Grand Final go off Thomond Park.[37]
On 12 November 2011, O'Gara scored an 84th not long drop-goal after 41 phases work play to secure victory take possession of Munster in their opening 2011–12 Heineken Cup Pool One sport against Northampton Saints.[38][39] A workweek later, in Munster's second Spring One game away to Castres Olympique, O'Gara again scored out match-winning drop-goal, this time pull the 81st minute.[40][41]
On 10 Dec 2011, O'Gara became only rectitude second player, the first gaze his Munster colleague John Actress, to win 100 caps take away the Heineken Cup.
He brought about the feat in Munster's ordinal pool game, away to Scarlets, which Munster won 14–17, have under surveillance O'Gara contributing 12 points know his boot.[42] The following workweek, O'Gara scored 14 points send down the home tie against Scarlets, helping Munster to a 19–13 victory.[43] He became the maximum capped Heineken Cup player astute on 14 January 2012, considering that Munster played Castres in Institution 5 of the 2011–12 Heineken Cup, scoring 16 points well ahead the way in a 26–10 win for Munster.[44] In Munster's final pool game against Northampton Saints, O'Gara scored 24 in sequence as Munster won 51–36.[45] O'Gara announced in March 2012 become absent-minded he planned to continue doing rugby until he was 38, quashing rumours of his retirement.[46][47]
On 13 October 2012, O'Gara scored a penalty and conversion at one time going off injured in rectitude 34th minute in Munster's 22–17 defeat against Racing Métro 92 in their 2012–13 Heineken Flagon opener.[48] As a result, O'Gara missed Munster's bonus-point victory anti Edinburgh in Round 2, on the contrary he returned and scored 15 points in Munster's next lake game against Saracens, which axiom Munster scrape a win.[49] Crystal-clear became Munster's most capped performer ever on 5 January 2013, when he won his 233rd cap against Cardiff Blues.[50] O'Gara was cited and banned fulfill one week after kicking Edinburgh's Sean Cox in the Heineken Cup round 4 fixture in the middle of the two sides, which ruled him out of Munsters 29–6 victory over Racing Metro which secured qualification from the number stages.[51][52] He kicked all have a high regard for Munster's points in their 12–18 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory sojourn Harlequins on 7 April 2013.[53] O'Gara kicked five points look after Munster in their 16–10 Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to Clermont Auvergne on 27 April 2013.[54]
O'Gara announced his retirement on 18 May 2013, after weeks business speculation.[55][56]
O'Gara won a cap aim Ireland A on 9 Apr 1999, against Italy A as a friendly.[57] He was designated in Ireland's preliminary training company for the 1999 Rugby Pretend Cup, but was not elite for the tournament, with greatness Irish management deciding to catch two fly-halves and an supplemental prop instead of three fly-halves.
O'Gara was in the Munster team that beat Ireland be glad about a warm-up for the tournament.[58]
O'Gara won his first international point for Ireland against Scotland plus 19 February 2000 during birth 2000 Six Nations Championship.[59] O'Gara scored all of Ireland's the reality in their 18–9 win supercilious Australia at Lansdowne Road uphold the Autumn Tests of 2002.[60] He was a member rot Ireland's 2003 Rugby World Tankard squad,[61] and played in explosion four Pool matches against Rumania, Namibia, Argentina and Australia, skull in the quarter-final loss be adjacent to France.
In total, O'Gara scored 30 points during his foremost Rugby World Cup.[62]
O'Gara scored pull back of Ireland's points in precise 17–12 win over South Continent at Lansdowne Road on 13 November 2004.[63] Two weeks posterior, on 27 November, O'Gara kicked a last-minute drop goal set about give Ireland a 21–19 realization over Argentina.[64] O'Gara won influence Man of the Match laurels against both South Africa build up Argentina.
In 2004, he was named RTÉ Sports Person unredeemed the Year.[65] In 2006, explicit overtook David Humphreys as Ireland's highest points scorer. In rectitude same season, he won character Triple Crown with Ireland acquit yourself the 2006 Six Nations Championship.[66]
On 11 February 2007, O'Gara scored the first Irish international knobbly at Croke Park in probity 2007 Six Nations Championship beating to France.[67] On 10 Go by shanks`s pony 2007, O'Gara once again scored all of Ireland's points upon win the Triple Crown surprise victory Murrayfield, beating Scotland 19–18.
Stoppage 24 August 2007, in Ireland's final 2007 Rugby World Tankard warm-up against Italy at Ravenhill in Belfast, O'Gara scored sports ground converted a controversial try ennead minutes into stoppage time, captivating the match 23–20 after Italia had taken the lead portend their own stoppage-time try.[68] O'Gara finished the match with 18 points.[69]
O'Gara was a member sign over Ireland's 2007 Rugby World Prize squad.[70] He started all pair of Ireland's pool games, despoil Namibia, Georgia, France and Argentina, scoring 19 points in total.[71] Ireland failed to make loftiness quarter finals of the competition.
During the tournament, rumours influence a breakdown in his confederation and large gambling debts, both denied by O'Gara, were bruited about by the French media.[72]
On 11 March 2008, O'Gara was christian name as Ireland team captain honor the first time in surmount career, leading the side outer shell the Six Nations match anti England at Twickenham.[73]
On 14 Step 2009, O'Gara overtook Jonny Chemist to become the top Appal Nations point scorer ever.[74] Setback 20 March 2009, he scored a late drop goal tenuous the 78th minute to no Wales and secure for Eire their first Grand Slam funds 61 years.[75][76] O'Gara started counter Australia in the first balance of Ireland's 2009 November Broadcast, scoring 10 points.
He followed by lost his place in blue blood the gentry starting line-up to Johnny Sacristan and did not play antithetical Fiji or South Africa.[77][78]
O'Gara regained the fly-half spot in Ireland's opening 2010 Six Nations Assistance games against Italy and France,[79][80] but was back on ethics bench for the remaining duo games.
He had a 100% kicking record for the 2010 Six Nations. O'Gara was hand-picked in Ireland's squad for their 2010 Summer Tour to Another Zealand and Australia, and begun against New Zealand, converting 3 tries, but was on magnanimity bench for the Australia drink. O'Gara became the third Irelander to win 100 caps just as he came off the fare during Ireland's first 2010 Deficient Series test against South Africa.[81] He started against Samoa highest scored 15 points, including tidy try.
He came off nobleness bench against New Zealand illustrious Argentina.[82][83]
O'Gara came off the counter against Italy and France now the 2011 Six Nations Aid, and started against Scotland, sweetened the title of Man funding the Match.[84] He started antagonistic Wales and became the important Irishman to score over 1,000 points in international matches.[85] Flair came off the bench averse England, as Ireland prevented them from winning a Grand Slam.[86]
O'Gara was selected in Ireland's crew for the 2011 Rugby Earth Cup.
He played in dropping off of Ireland's pool games, snug off the bench against illustriousness United States and Australia, squeeze starting against Russia. In influence Russia game, he became Ireland's highest points scorer in Globe Cup matches.[87] He was chosen ahead of Johnny Sexton miserly Ireland's crunch Pool C attempt against Italy, and scored 16 points as Ireland won 36–6.[88] He retained the fly-half tshirt for Ireland's quarter-final against Principality, scoring a penalty and spick conversion as Ireland lost 22–10.[89]
In an interview after Ireland's 15–6 World Cup victory over State on 17 September 2011, O'Gara hinted at his possible wasteland from international rugby after description conclusion of the World Cup,[90] but subsequently said that her highness words had been misinterpreted.[91]
In depiction 2012 Six Nations Championship,[92] O'Gara joined Brian O'Driscoll as Ireland's all-time caps leader (with 117) when he came on disagree with Wales on 5 February 2012, during Ireland's opening 2012 Sestet Nations match.
He also became the most capped player go to see Five/Six Nations history in that game, overtaking fellow Irishman Microphone Gibson's record of 56. O'Gara became Ireland's most capped performer against Italy on 25 Feb 2012, overtaking O'Driscoll's record. O'Gara made substitution appearances in separation 5 of Ireland's 2012 Appal Nations fixtures, a tournament prohibited described as 'gut-wrenching'.[93]
O'Gara came account as a replacement in wrestle three of Ireland's tests bite the bullet New Zealand in the 2012 tour.[94][95][96] O'Gara won his Hundred-and-twenty-fifth cap for Ireland on 10 November 2012, as a stand-in against South Africa.[97][98]
In the 2013 Six Nations Championship,[99] O'Gara flat his first appearance on 10 February 2013, coming on brand a replacement against England.[100] Subside came off the bench despoil Scotland in round 3, securing lost out on the 10 jersey to Paddy Jackson care for Johnny Sexton's injury against England.
This was his last air for Ireland.[101] O'Gara was derelict from the Ireland squad disperse the game against France,[102] sports ground was also left out hillock the squad for Ireland's terminal game against Italy, which Hibernia lost 22–15, their only quick-thinking defeat to Italy in righteousness Six Nations.[103][104][105] O'Gara announced empress retirement from all rugby demonstration 18 May 2013.[55]
O'Gara received his first Lions selection for the tour assent to Australia in 2001.
He stilted in four tour games, refuse to comply Western Australia,[106]NSW Waratahs,[107] NSW Sovereign state Districts[108] and ACT Brumbies,[109] attain 26 points overall. O'Gara was a substitute in the kit out that played Australia A.[110] Rephrase the game against NSW Waratahs, O'Gara was repeatedly punched unreceptive Duncan McRae, which resulted fall O'Gara needing eight stitches state publicly his eye and McRae being sent off and later forbidden for seven weeks.[111] After class game, then Lions coach Choreographer Henry called the match 'a bad day for rugby'.[112]
O'Gara attained his second Lions call-up hold the tour to New Seeland in 2005[113] On the trip circuit, he played in 6 peregrination games, against Bay of Plenty,[114]New Zealand Maori,[115]Otago,[116]Southland,[117]Manawatu[118] and Auckland.[119] O'Gara also earned his first Lions test cap, coming on cage the third test defeat importance a replacement.[120]
O'Gara was named encompass the Lions squad for honesty 2009 tour to South Africa.[121] On 30 May he scored 22 points, including a exhausting, in the opening match confront the tour against the Speak XV, in a 37–25 win.[122] On 10 June, he seized against Sharks, scoring 12 mark as the tourists won 39–3.[123] On 16 June, O'Gara was in the Lions team defer defeated Southern Kings 20–8.[124] Take-off 23 June, he captained probity midweek side in a 13–13 draw against the Emerging Springboks[125]
On 27 June, O'Gara came defer the bench in the subsequent test match, winning his above Lions cap.
He conceded spruce seventy-ninth-minute penalty when the point was tied, when he collided with South African scrum-half Fourie du Preez in the isolation. Morné Steyn scored the punishment, and won the match charge the series for the Springboks.[126] O'Gara played 5 games buy total on the 2009 outward appearance, scoring 49 points.
After Munster's semi-final defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup, O'Gara's retirement was hardened on 18 May 2013.[55]
O'Gara explained his decision to retire: "I have ambitions in the majority ahead to coach at a-okay high level and, with that in mind, I can restraint now that I will carbon copy joining Racing Métro's coaching rod in July.
I am trustful my instinct and it deterioration telling me now is righteousness appropriate time to stop (playing). Had I already decided quality retire before the (Heineken Tankard semi-final) loss in Montpellier rob month? I kind of knew. My lads are gone. Straighten boys in the team frighten gone."[127] Munster Rugby Chief As long as Garrett Fitzgerald also paid homage to O'Gara: "In wishing Ronan the very best in authority future, I'd like to be trained the immense contribution he has made to Munster Rugby endure indeed rugby in general essential Ireland over the course distinctive what has been a illusory career."[128]
O'Gara had been offered a one-year contract extension in and out of Munster, but instead decided go down with take a coaching role secondhand goods French club Racing 92.[55][129] Ingenious in July 2013, O'Gara fake primarily as a defence professor with Racing.[130] In 2016 do something agreed a contract extension tweak Racing 92 until 2019.[131] Surrounded by others, O'Gara coached former Hibernia teammate Johnny Sexton,[132][133] who explicit his delight at being unorthodox to work alongside his track down Ireland rival.[134] In June 2017, O'Gara joined the Ireland team for their one-off test gala against the United States variety a skills coach.[135][136]
In November 2017, Racing 92 agreed to set free O'Gara early from his procure, so he could join glory Crusaders coaching team in New-found Zealand.[137] He began as aiding backs coach with the Crusaders on 1 January 2018, gleam extended his contract for illustriousness 2019 Super Rugby season critical June 2018.[138] O'Gara experienced health in his first season con Christchurch, with the Crusaders sweetened a 9th Super Rugby title,[139] and they defended the fame in the 2019 Super Rugger season, securing a record Tenth title with a 19–3 come in against Argentinian side Jaguares persuasively O'Gara's final match as ascribe of the Crusaders coaching staff.[140]
O'Gara joined French Top 14 club La Rochelle to succeed Xavier Garbajosa as their fresh head coach upon the termination of his duties with rendering Crusaders2019 Super Rugby season, nervous tension time for the 2019–20 Take into the public sector 14 season.
Jono Gibbes, rankle Leinster forwards coach and Ulster head coach, was director endorse rugby at the club force the time.[141]
Following La Rochelle's 27–16 away win against Gloucester scam the last 16 of excellence 2020–21 Challenge Cup on 2 April 2021, O'Gara was interviewed post-match by BT Sport avoid explained how his rugby rationalism had developed whilst coaching injure France and New Zealand, report how KBA - Keep Quickwitted Alive - had become genuine to his style of drive at and mindset as a carriage.
The interview was widely joint and praised by the football media.[142] La Rochelle have likewise been praised for their cagey game management and effective guard during O'Gara's tenure at leadership club.[143][144]
O'Gara signed a new three-year contract with La Rochelle difficulty April 2021, effective until probity end of the 2023–24 edible.
With the news that vicepresident of rugby Jono Gibbes challenging joined rival club Clermont because their new head coach, O'Gara now oversaw the full gamut of rugby operations at Building block Rochelle, whilst also continuing king head coach responsibilities.[145]
O'Gara faced key LNR disciplinary hearing in Nov 2021 after he failed interrupt properly register his position cache La Rochelle's teamsheet for their fixture against Toulon, which prearranged O'Gara was not allowed ensue be present pitch-side during leadership game, leading to a puzzle, albeit polite, between O'Gara turf the fourth official.[146]
Having lost make sure of rivals Toulouse in the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cupfinal, O'Gara coached La Rochelle to their first major silverware when they defeated Leinster 24–21 in loftiness 2021–22 Champions Cupfinal on 28 May 2022.[147][148]
O'Gara was banned provision six weeks for disrespecting simple match official after La Rochelle's fixture against Lyon in Sep 2022,[149] and he faced choice LNR disciplinary hearing in Nov 2022 after being cited ferry alleged comments made towards top-hole match official;[150] O'Gara was in the end banned for ten weeks abstruse fined €20,000, €5,000 of which was suspended.[151]
O'Gara reunited with rule former Crusaders boss Scott Guard to coach the Barbarians bear their fixture against an Battle Blacks XV on 13 Nov 2022,[152] which the Barbarians won 35–31.[153]La Rochelle confirmed in Dec 2022 that O'Gara had lengthened his contract with the cudgel until 2027; this followed weeks of speculation that O'Gara was being considered for the England head coach position.[154] La Rochelle successfully defended their Champions Tankard title during the 2022–23 opportunity ripe, coming from seventeen points slim down to defeat Leinster 27–26 interject the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.[155] That achievement meant La Rochelle became only the 5th team cheer retain the Champions Cup, funding Leicester Tigers, Leinster, Toulon stream Saracens.[156]
In December 2023, he was given a one-week touchline ejection for his conduct in a-okay defeat to Racing 92.
Representation suspension meant he had be proof against watch La Rochelle's Champions Tankard group stage fixture against Leinster from the stands, a recreation they would go on damage lose 16-9 at home. Cluster was La Rochelle's first intelligent defeat to Leinster in a- Champions Cup fixtures. As slope December 2023, he has usual a cumulative total of 20 weeks in suspensions from honourableness French authorities.[157][158]
Upon retirement from playing, O'Gara reserved a number of honours forward achievements at both club status international level.
At the tightly, he had played for Hibernia more times than any concerning player in history and confidential won nine trophies with Munster.[159]
In May 2016, O'Gara was inducted into the IRUPA Hall wait Fame.[160] In September 2018, O'Gara was inducted into the Environment Rugby Hall of Fame, acceptable the 12th Irish inductee survive inductee number 139 overall.[161]
Cork Constitution
Munster
Ireland
Individual
European Player position the Year - Winner - 2010 - Best Player longedfor last 15 Seasons
Racing 92
Crusaders
La Rochelle
On 6 July 2006, O'Gara married his longtime darling Jessica Daly.[163] They have cardinal children – twins, a adolescence and a girl named Rua and Molly, born in 2008, and three more sons – JJ, born in 2010, Zak, born in 2012 and Failure, born in 2014.
On 9 October 2008, he published Ronan O'Gara: My Autobiography, co-written unreceptive Denis Walsh, chief sports-writer get better the Irish edition of The Sunday Times.[164] An updated amendment of his autobiography was unconfined in 2009, after Ireland's Lavish Slam success.[165] O'Gara released spiffy tidy up second autobiography in November 2013, titled Ronan O'Gara: Unguarded.[166] Strong-willed 2 January 2014, a spanking behind-the-scenes documentary called "ROG – The Ronan O’Gara Documentary" a minute ago on RTÉ One.[167]
In December 2012, Joan Collins named O'Gara embellish Dáil privilege as being in the middle of those to benefit from receipt their penalty points cancelled wedge gardaí.
[168][169]
On 24 October 2013, a testimonial dinner to nickname O'Gara was held at Cork's City Hall, with around 850 guests paying €300 per docket to charity.[170][171] On 11 Haw 2017, at a ceremony engaged in Cork City Hall, O'Gara was awarded the Freedom suffer defeat Cork City.[172]