SeanO'Brien

Sean O’Brien’s invaluable big-match temperament will be vital in New Zealand this summer after being selected by Warren Gatland for his second British & Irish Lions Tour.

The Tullow Tank was a key figure on the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia that culminated in an historic series victory. The flanker came through the ranks at Leinster, making his debut for the province in 2008 and winning the Heineken Cup on two occasions in 2011 and 2012.

He was named European Player of the Year in 2011 for his performances in that campaign, and has continued to be a key figure for the Dublin based side.

O’Brien made his international debut in 2009 when he came off the bench in November against Fiji and he did the same the following week in a win over South Africa.

His full debut came in 2010 but it was in 2011 that he really established himself on the international stage. Capable of playing across the back-row, O’Brien started every game of the RBS 6 Nations that season and was also first choice at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He continued to impress with Ireland thanks to his dynamic ball-carrying and ability at the breakdown, and played all three Tests against New Zealand in 2012.

His international form was enough to earn a call-up for the Lions in the 2013 Tour to Australia and he came off the bench in the second Test before starting the decisive third in the series victory.

Injuries have hindered his international appearances since, he didn’t play a Test in 2014, before making his comeback against France in 2015 as Ireland made it back-to-back RBS 6 Nations titles.

O’Brien was part of the Ireland squad that reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 but again injuries hampered the following RBS 6 Nations campaign where he managed just 19 minutes against France.

He missed the win over New Zealand in Chicago but featured in the return fixture and then started every game of the 2017 RBS 6 Nations to prove his fitness and earn a second call-up from Gatland.