Few players have ever owned the number 13 shirt quite like Brian O'Driscoll. More than a decade after retiring, the Dubliner was back on our screens for the 2026 Six Nations as part of ITV's punditry team.
To a generation of Irish fans he was simply BOD: captain, try scorer and Grand Slam hero. Here is his story. If he is your favourite centre too, browse our full Rugby Union collection.
Brian O'Driscoll Fact File
| Full name | Brian Gerard O'Driscoll |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 January 1979 (age 47) |
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Position | Outside centre |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Current status | Retired (2014); television pundit |
| Shirt number | 13 |
| Nickname | BOD |
Career History
| Team | Years | Matches | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leinster | 1999–2014 | 186 | Three Heineken Cups; one-club man |
| Ireland | 1999–2014 | 133 caps | 46 tries; captain 83 times |
| British & Irish Lions | 2001–2013 | 8 Tests | Four tours; captain in 2005 |
| Total Tests | 1999–2014 | 141 | Ireland plus Lions |
Note: Leinster matches are all competitive appearances for the province; Ireland and Lions figures are Test matches only (Lions tour games against provincial sides are not included). Figures from Wikipedia, World Rugby and the British & Irish Lions.
Early Years in Dublin
Rugby ran in the family: his father Frank won two caps for Ireland. Brian learned the game at Blackrock College before playing club rugby for University College Dublin. In 1999 he broke into the Leinster side, and within months he was handed his first Ireland cap against Australia in Brisbane, aged just 20.
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Breakthrough: Paris 2000
The moment the rugby world learned his name came in the 2000 Six Nations. In Paris, the young centre scored a hat-trick of tries as Ireland beat France, their first win in the French capital since 1972. A year later he was on the Lions tour to Australia, scoring a brilliant solo try on his Test debut in Brisbane. By 2003 he was Ireland captain, a role he held until 2012.
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Captain, Grand Slam and European Glory
O'Driscoll was named captain of the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand, though injury ended his series in the opening Test. Named Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2006 and 2007, he then had the year of his life in 2009: he led Ireland to their first Grand Slam in 61 years, won the Player of the Championship award for a third time and lifted the Heineken Cup with Leinster. Two more European crowns followed in 2011 and 2012, and he finished as the Six Nations' record try scorer with 26.
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The Perfect Farewell
O'Driscoll went on his fourth Lions tour in 2013. His Test goodbye came, fittingly, in Paris on 15 March 2014: Ireland held on to beat France 22–20 and win the Six Nations title in his 141st and final Test. On 31 May 2014 he made his 186th and last Leinster appearance as they beat Glasgow Warriors 34–12 in the Pro12 Grand Final at the RDS.
Honours
Ireland
- Six Nations Champions: 2009, 2014
- Grand Slam: 2009
- Triple Crown: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009
Leinster
- Heineken Cup: 2009, 2011, 2012
- Pro12 Grand Final winner: 2014
Individual
- Six Nations Player of the Championship: 2006, 2007, 2009
- British & Irish Lions captain: 2005
- World Rugby Hall of Fame: inducted 2016
Away From the Game
Since retiring, O'Driscoll has become one of rugby's best-known voices on television, working as an analyst for BT Sport and as a studio pundit on ITV's Rugby World Cup and Six Nations coverage. He is married to the actress Amy Huberman, and the couple have three children.
FAQs
How old is Brian O'Driscoll?
Brian O'Driscoll was born on 21 January 1979, so he is 47 years old.
Where was Brian O'Driscoll born?
He was born in Dublin, Ireland.
How tall is Brian O'Driscoll?
He stands 1.75 m, which is about 5 ft 9 in.
What teams did Brian O'Driscoll play for?
He spent his whole professional career with Leinster (1999–2014), and played Test rugby for Ireland and the British & Irish Lions.
How many tries did Brian O'Driscoll score for Ireland?
He scored 46 tries in 133 Ireland caps, making him Ireland's record try scorer, and his 26 Six Nations tries remain the Championship record.
What was Brian O'Driscoll's most famous moment?
Many fans pick his 2000 hat-trick in Paris; others choose captaining Ireland to the 2009 Grand Slam.
Shop the Brian O'Driscoll Collection
Pay tribute to Ireland's greatest centre with our made-to-order Brian O'Driscoll range.
Explore more legends in our Rugby Union collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Richie McCaw Career Story and Jonny Wilkinson Career Story.
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