Quick Facts
Biography
Tommy O'Donnell (born 21 May 1987 in Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland) is an Irish rugby union player for Munster in the Pro 12 and European Rugby Champions Cup. He normally plays as an Openside Flanker, but has also played Blindside and Number 8. He plays for UL Bohemians in the AIB League.
Early life
O'Donnell began playing rugby for Clanwilliam RFC at an underage level, before progressing to senior level. He also played for East Munster and Irish Youths whilst at Clanwilliam.
Munster
O'Donnell made his Munster debut against Scarlets on 22 September 2007, during a Celtic League fixture. He was part of the historic Munster team that beat Australia 15–6 at Thomond Park on 16 November 2010. He made his Heineken Cup debut off the bench during Munster's 19–13 victory against Scarlets on 18 December 2011.
He signed a new two-year contract with Munster in March 2012. O'Donnell made his first Heineken Cup start in the quarter-final against Ulster on 8 April 2012. He was named Munster Player of the Year for the 2012–13 season, following in the footsteps of teammates Donnacha Ryan, James Coughlan, Mick O'Driscoll, David Wallace, John Hayes and Ronan O'Gara.
O'Donnell signed a new contract with Munster in November 2013 which will see him remain with the province until June 2016. He made his return from a knee injury sustained in September 2013 for Munster A on 6 December 2013.
He was nominated for the 2015 Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year Award in April 2015. O'Donnell won his 100th cap for Munster on 25 April 2015, scoring a try in the 30-19 win against Treviso and winning the Man-of-the-Match award. He was named in the 2014–15 Pro12 Dream Team, alongside teammate CJ Stander. In December 2015, O'Donnell signed a three-year contract with Munster. On 27 December 2015, O'Donnell made his return from the injury he sustained during the World Cup with Ireland, coming off the bench against Leinster during a 2015–16 Pro12 game.
On 3 September 2016, O'Donnell won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's win against Scarlets in the opening round of the 2016–17 Pro12. On 11 November 2016, O'Donnell captained Munster for the first time and led them to a historic 27-14 win against the Māori All Blacks.
Ireland
O'Donnell has been capped for Ireland at U-18 and U-20 grades. He was part of the U-20 Grand Slam winning team in 2007.
He received his first senior call-up on 21 January 2013, when he was drafted into Ireland's 2013 Six Nations Championship training squad. O'Donnell made his debut for Ireland Wolfhounds on 25 January 2013, starting in the friendly against England Saxons. He was added to Ireland's Six Nations squad for the fixture against Scotland on 18 February 2013.
O'Donnell was named in the Ireland squad for the 2013 Ireland tour to North America on 19 May 2013. He made his debut for the senior Ireland team on 8 June 2013, coming on as a replacement against the USA. O'Donnell made his first start for Ireland against Canada on 15 June 2013, also scoring his first try for Ireland in the game.
O'Donnell started for Ireland Wolfhounds in their friendly against England Saxons on 25 January 2014. On 27 January 2014, O'Donnell was named in Ireland's 34-man squad for the opening two fixtures of the 2014 Six Nations Championship. He came off the bench against Scotland on 2 February 2014. O'Donnell came off the bench against Wales on 8 February 2014. O'Donnell was selected in the Emerging Ireland squad on 26 May 2014. He started against Russia in their first 2014 IRB Nations Cup match on 13 June 2014, scoring a try. O'Donnell started in their second game against Uruguay on 18 June 2014. He came off the bench in the 31-10 win Romania on 22 June 2014, a win that secured the 2014 IRB Nations Cup for Emerging Ireland.
O'Donnell was named in the Ireland squad for the 2014 Guinness Series on 21 October 2014. He came off the bench during the 29-15 win against South Africa on 8 November 2014. O'Donnell started in the 49-7 win against Georgia on 16 November 2014.
He was named in the Ireland squad for the opening rounds of the 2015 Six Nations Championship on 1 February 2015. He started against Italy on 7 February 2015, scoring a try in Ireland's 26-3 win. He came off the bench in the 19-9 win against England on 1 March 2015. England's failure to score enough points against France meant Ireland won the 2015 Six Nations Championship, the first time Ireland have won back-to-back championships since 1948-49.
O'Donnell was named in the 45-man training squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup on 24 June 2015. He started in the first World Cup warm-up against Wales on 8 August 2015, but went off injured in the second half. On 10 August 2015, it was confirmed that O'Donnell had dislocated his hip, requiring a minimum of 6 weeks non-weight bearing activity, effectively ruling him out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
On 20 January 2016, O'Donnell was named in Ireland's 35-man squad for the 2016 Six Nations. On 7 February 2016, O'Donnell started against Wales in Ireland's opening match of the Six Nations. On 13 February 2016, O'Donnell came off the bench against France to replace Seán O'Brien after he went off injured. On 23 January 2017, O'Donnell was named in the Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the 2017 Six Nations Championship.
Personal life
On 24 June 2016, O'Donnell married Elisse O'Grady in Kenmare, County Kerry.
Honours
Ireland
- Six Nations Championship:
- Winner (2): 2014, 2015
Emerging Ireland
- IRB Nations Cup
- Winner (1): (2014)
