Brian O'Driscoll Player details
DOB:21st Jan 1979
Position: Centre
Height1:.75 m
Weight:95 kg
Debut: 12th June 1999
Caps 74:
Points:157
Tries:29
Born in Dublin, BRIAN O'DRISCOLL was educated at Blackrock College and University College Dublin. In 1996, he made his debut for Ireland Schools and two seasons later, he played for Ireland Under-19s.

In February 1999 he made his Ireland Under-21 debut against France and was called into the Ireland Senior squad for the first time for the game against Italy in April 1999. He did not play that day but kept his place in the squad for the Summer Tour to Australia where he won his first cap playing against the Wallabies that June.
He gained a second against the same opposition a week later. During the 1999/00 season he played in the World Cup warm-up game against Argentina and in the tournament itself he played a part in all four of Ireland's games - scoring his first international try against the US Eagles. O'Driscoll was ever-present for the 2000 Five Nations, scoring a famous hat-trick of tries against France and setting up Ireland's first win in Paris for 28 years.

After a spell on the sidelines with injury, he returned for the game against Japan (November 2000) and won his 14th cap against South Africa a week later. Injury again forced him to miss the game against Italy (February 2001). He returned a fortnight later to score his ninth international try against France and in the summer of 2001 he played in all three Tests for the Lions against Australia.

Back to his best in the 2002 6 Nations championship game against Scotland, O'Driscoll plundered a brilliant hat-trick of tries in Dublin. He repeated that feat in Ireland's opening game (v Divisonal XV) of their 2002 summer tour of New Zealand and scored a drop goal in both Tests v the All-Blacks.

The Blackrock and Leinster centre captained Ireland for the first time when winning his 31st cap against Australia in November 2002 and took over as captain of the squad for the 2004 6 Nations after Keith Wood's retirement post-RWC 2003.

O'Driscoll has since struck up a fine midfield partnership with his Leinster team mate Gordon D'Arcy at Test level - with the duo proving a menace to defences during the 2004 6 Nations' run to the Triple Crown.

Last season (2004/05) also saw O'Driscoll snap back the Ireland try-scoring record from Leinster colleague Denis Hickie. He currently leads on 28, thanks to efforts in the 2005 6 Nations against England and France, and one against New Zealand on the '06 Summer Tour.

He was named as Ireland's first British & Irish Lions skipper since Ciaran Fitzgerald in 1983 last year. He played in the first Test against New Zealand, but had his shoulder dislocated in the first few minutes and took no further part in the remaining games of the Tour.

O'Driscoll was recovering from the injury for the autumn internationals, but he returned for Ireland in February, starting the 6 Nations clashes against Italy, France, Wales, Scotland and the Triple Crown-winning game against England. He was subsequently named Player of the Championship by the RBS 6 Nations. He scored his 28th try against the All Blacks in June.

He was again instrumental in Ireland's victories over South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islanders in the November international series.