Former Leinster centre Conor O’Brien has recently spoken out about how he keeps a positive mental attitude, despite being forced to retire from rugby at just 26 years of age. O’Brien suffered a series of career-threatening injuries within the space just two years.
O’Brien suffered two right hamstring tears, an ACL injury and a torn left hamstring within 24 months. A recent interview with SportsJOE sees the former Leinsterman making light of the situation, asking “who is looking down on me, saying don’t play rugby, something’s telling me not to.”
Impressively, O’Brien has been able to maintain a positive mental attitude regarding his cut-short career. He shared his thoughts on the early retirement, and how the injuries have helped him put things into perspective.
“It was difficult but, it sort of galvanizes you because nothing really can bother me too much anymore. In regards to negativity or something happening to me, I don’t really care too much for feeling sorry for myself.”
O’Brien played 24 times for Leinster, and made his debut for Leinster away to Glasgow Warriors in the 2017/18 PRO14 season. He made 14 appearances for the Dublin club the following season, and also achieved a run-out in the Heineken Champions Cup. He accrued a collection of winners medals in his tenure with Leinster, winning four consecutive PRO14 titles, from 2017 to 2021.
He scored six tries for Leo Cullen’s side, but his injury-prone hamstrings saw him call time on his career, when it was just getting started. O’Brien last played for Leinster in October of last year against the Newport Dragons in the URC. This was his only appearance of the season before he retired at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.