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At 38-years-old Donncha O'Callaghan has finally been made a team captain
It’s taken nearly two decades as a professional rugby player, but Donncha O’Callaghan has finally been made a team captain.
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O’Callaghan will lead Warriors during Gary Gold’s first full season in charge after being named as the Club’s captain for the 2017/18 campaign.
Donncha O'Callaghan named Worcester club captain for 2017/18. Can't put a value on what he's done for that club.
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) August 23, 2017
While he has captained both Worcester and Munster on one off occasions, this is the first time that he has been made a fully fledged team captain.
O’Callaghan, who has 94 caps for Ireland and has made four appearances for the British & Irish Lions, has been handed the captain’s armband as he prepares for his third season at Sixways.
He is joined by his former Munster colleague Peter Stringer, and both will start in a pre-season warm-up against their former club.
The lock joined Warriors from Munster Rugby in the summer of 2015 and has gone on to make 43 appearances for the Club, demonstrating his leadership abilities countless times.
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O’Callaghan will be assisted in his role by GJ van Velze and Ryan Mills, who have both been named as vice-captains.
Warriors Director of Rugby Gary Gold said: “Donncha has accumulated two decades of experience at the top level of the game and has played in some of the biggest matches on the world stage.
“There is no doubt that other players in the squad look up to him and I am sure he will do a superb job as our captain.
“GJ and Ryan will also play important roles to ensure the side can move in the right direction over the coming season.”
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O’Callaghan added: “I have loved every minute of my time at Sixways and it is a huge honour to lead this side into the new season.
“The Premiership is tougher than ever so I am focused on ensuring the lads put in the performances the supporters deserve so we can all pull together and have a successful campaign.”
During his illustrious career, O’Callaghan won the Six Nations Grand Slam with Ireland in 2009 while also picking up two Heineken Cup titles and two Magners League titles with Munster.
He also captained the Lions in South Africa in 2009 and featured in three consecutive World Cups – the last of which came in 2011, where he started all of Ireland’s matches.
Comments on RugbyPass
No doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
5 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
5 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
8 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to comments