RUCK.co.uk shares with you 10 not so well known facts about Leinster and Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll.
1. Football support
He is devoted to Manchester United and his boyhood hero was Mark Hughes. "I loved him for his temperament, his aggression, and the fact that he just couldn't score ordinary goals," he once said.
2. His rugby family
His father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps. But it was his other uncle, John, who really put the O'Driscoll name on the map: he represented Ireland 26 times and was a member of the Lions side who toured in 1980 and 1983.
3. Most-capped
O'Driscoll is the second most-capped player in rugby union history, having played 141 test matches: 133 for Ireland (83 as captain), and 8 for the British and Irish Lions.
4. Final game
His final appearance for Leinster, and for any team, was in the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final on 31 May in Leinster's home ground, the RDS in Dublin, in which Leinster defeated the Glasgow Warriors 34-12.
5. Barbarians
He appeared three times for the invitational Barbarians rugby team: against South Africa on 10 December 2000, against Scotland on 22 May 2004, and against England on 30 May 2004.
6. Hall of fame
He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame on 17 November 2016 at the opening ceremony for the Hall's first location in Rugby, Warwickshire.
7. Three-times winner
O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations Championships.
8. Famous quote
His most oft-quoted line was delivered at a press conference at Croke Park before an England match in 2009: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."
9. Leader
O'Driscoll has captained Ireland more than any other player, 83 times between November 2002 and June 2012.
10. Top-scorer
The Leinster stalwart is the Six Nations' leading all-time try-scorer with 26.
