45 Facts About Donncha O'Callaghan

Donncha O'Callaghan was born on 24 March 1979 and is an Irish retired rugby union player.

Donncha O'Callaghan spent most of his career with his home province Munster, spending 17 seasons with the province and winning five major trophies, before finishing his career with Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.

Internationally, O'Callaghan represented Ireland and was part of the team that won the Six Nations grand slam in 2009.

Donncha O'Callaghan began his rugby education in Highfield Rugby Club, on the Model Farm Road in Cork.

Donncha O'Callaghan made his Munster debut on 4 September 1998, starting against Ulster in an Irish Inter-Provincial match.

Donncha O'Callaghan scored a try after a 55m run in the first game of their Heineken Cup defence against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road Stadium.

Donncha O'Callaghan scored another try against Bourgoin at Thomond Park in their first home game since winning the Heineken Cup.

On 11 November 2010, Donncha O'Callaghan committed his future to the province when he signed a new three-year contract, finishing in 2014.

Donncha O'Callaghan became the ninth Munster player to reach the 200-caps mark in the league game against Glasgow Warriors on 14 April 2012.

Donncha O'Callaghan signed a contract extension with Munster in November 2013, which will see him remain with the province until June 2016.

On 15 February 2014, Donncha O'Callaghan made history when he came off the bench for Munster against Zebre to earn his 241st cap, overtaking the record for Munster appearances previously held by Ronan O'Gara.

Donncha O'Callaghan was nominated for the IRUPA Medal for Excellence 2014 award on 23 April 2014.

Donncha O'Callaghan missed out on this award, but did win the inaugural Contribution to Society Award for his work with UNICEF.

On 3 September 2015, it was announced that Donncha O'Callaghan had been granted an early release from his Munster contract to join English Aviva Premiership side Worcester Warriors on a two-year contract.

On 5 December 2015, Donncha O'Callaghan received the first red card of his career during Worcester's game against Leicester Tigers.

Donncha O'Callaghan signed a one-year contract extension in April 2017.

Donncha O'Callaghan made his international debut for Ireland on 22 March 2003, coming on as a replacement against Wales at the Millennium Stadium during the 2003 Six Nations Championship.

Donncha O'Callaghan was part of the Ireland team that won the Triple Crown in the 2004 Six Nations Championship, Ireland's first Triple Crown in 19 years.

Donncha O'Callaghan played in all of Ireland's 2005 Autumn Tests when Paul O'Connell was injured.

Donncha O'Callaghan was part of the Ireland team that won further Triple Crowns in 2006 and 2007.

Donncha O'Callaghan was part of the Irish team which won the Grand Slam in the 2009 Six Nations Championship, Ireland's first in 61 years.

Donncha O'Callaghan missed the first two games of the 2010 Six Nations Championship, but returned against England and went on to start against Wales.

Donncha O'Callaghan started against New Zealand and Australia in Ireland's 2010 Summer Tests.

Donncha O'Callaghan started against South Africa in Ireland's opening game of the 2010 November Tests, starting against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.

Donncha O'Callaghan started against Italy in Ireland's first game of the 2011 Six Nations Championship, and went on to start against France, Scotland, Wales and England.

Donncha O'Callaghan was selected in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August, starting both tests against France and the test against England.

Donncha O'Callaghan was selected in the 30-man squad to go to New Zealand, starting the pool stage victories against USA, Australia, Russia and Italy, and starting the quarter-final defeat to Wales.

Donncha O'Callaghan was selected in Ireland's 24-man squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship.

Donncha O'Callaghan started against Wales, Italy, France, Scotland and England.

Donncha O'Callaghan featured in all of Ireland's tests in the 2012 tour of New Zealand, coming off the bench in the first, second and third tests.

Donncha O'Callaghan featured in the 2012 Autumn Tests against South Africa and Argentina, earning his 90th cap for Ireland in the Argentina test.

Donncha O'Callaghan was named in Ireland's training squad for the 2013 Six Nations Championship on 17 January 2013, and came off the bench against Wales and England.

An injury to Mike McCarthy meant that Donncha O'Callaghan was promoted to the starting XV for Ireland's game against Scotland on 24 February 2013.

Donncha O'Callaghan was then dropped from the international side, with Leinster's Devin Toner being preferred for the place on the bench against Italy.

Donncha O'Callaghan was added to the Ireland squad for the 2013 Autumn Tests on 28 October 2013.

Donncha O'Callaghan was left out of the squad for the 2014 Six Nations Championship.

Donncha O'Callaghan started for the Lions in a test match against Argentina on 23 May 2005.

Donncha O'Callaghan continued with O'Connell for the third test defeat as well.

Donncha O'Callaghan captained the mid-week Lions team to victory over Southern Kings on 16 June 2009.

Donncha O'Callaghan came off the bench in the first test defeat, his only test appearance on the tour.

Donncha O'Callaghan was selected in the Barbarians squad to play England on 26 May 2014.

Donncha O'Callaghan is the younger brother of Ultan O'Callaghan, former Munster player and coach and now Domestic Rugby Manager at Munster Rugby, and cousin of the former Cork City FC footballer George O'Callaghan.

On 23 December 2009, Donncha O'Callaghan married his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Harte, at St Columba's Church in Douglas, Cork.

Donncha O'Callaghan has been an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland since July 2009 and has made visits to South Africa, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, and Syria with UNICEF.

Donncha O'Callaghan released an autobiography in October 2011, called Joking Apart: My Autobiography.