Brian O’Driscoll to continue playing for Ireland – Rugby News
Irish professional Rugby Union player and captain of Ireland’s national Rugby Union team, Brian O’Driscoll, has expressed his determination to continue playing for Ireland. He made these comments
while talking to the Irish Times on Saturday, October 29.
He stated, “People are very quick to write individuals off. If you still feel fit and up to a certain standard that you have set yourself then why not play on?”
Earlier in the month, after the Ireland’s departure from the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) following their quarter-final defeat at the hand of the Wales, the different segments of the media asked
for older players to retire from the international arena.
O’Driscoll explained that retirement as “either the body or the mind giving up.” He aasked that if a person’s mind and body are working fine why there is a need for him or her to retire. He
further added, “There is no reason to pay heed to what people are writing in their columns. The decision is left to you.”
O’Driscoll cited the example of former Irish star fly half David Humphries and All Blacks star player, Brad Thorn as players who continued playing until their late 30s. He added, “When I was
written off before I managed to do that and if I am written off again I will try my best to come back if I feel I still have it in me.”
Besides captaincy, O’Driscoll will assume charge of the chairmanship of the Irish Rugby Players Union (Irupa). He added he will see through the transition period through which the Irish Rugby
team is currently going through. He termed his role as crucial in development of the next generation players to lead the Ireland team.
O’Driscoll added that he will make most of the opportunity at hand, because in a few years time once his out of scene, people will forgot about him. He added that we want to play with the new
players because in the alternate scenario, these new players just only will know the names of the players who used to play for the country.
The 32-year-old O’Driscoll has hinted that he foresees his career in Rugby. He said, “Rugby is going to be a big component in my life in the future in some shape or form."
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