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Sean O'Brien posts heartfelt message after his short-lived return to playing
London Irish flanker Sean O’Brien has shared a message thanking all those who helped him successfully return to rugby after his recent debut for the Gallagher Premiership club. Despite joining Declan Kidney’s side last summer from Leinster, a hip injury prevented him from playing and it also deprived him of a chance of playing for Ireland at the World Cup in Japan.
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It was only last month, in the final round of top-flight league fixtures played before the tournament’s suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, that the back row finally managed to make his Exiles debut.
Now stuck on the sidelines again with no sign of matches being played in the near future, he has now taken to Instagram to reflect on his recovery, while also sharing footage of his debut at Sale as well as an X-ray of his hip resurfacing.
He wrote: “I never put up a post after getting back to rugby after a hip resurfacing and ten months of rehab as I thought I’d get a few more games under my belt. It’s not looking likely anytime soon but I just wanted to thank a few people who enabled me to get back to playing and doing what I love.”
The 33-year-old also thanked the surgeons and the various medical departments that helped him over the past ten months, particularly in the transition between two clubs. That could have caused complications, as the flanker was not fit when arriving at London Irish.
Given the injuries that O’Brien had endured throughout his career and the amount of rugby he missed, his latest problem led to calls for him to retire.
View this post on Instagram
On a positive note… I never put up a post after getting back to rugby after a hip resurfacing and 10 months of rehab as I thought I’d get a few more games under my belt, not looking likely anytime soon but I just wanted to thank a few people who enabled me to get back to playing and doing what I love! To @fearghalkerin and Gareth for your patience and understanding and all the medical department and staff @leinsterrugby for their support through all of this was nothing short of phenomenal! To @profgriffin for explaining in every detail what was entailed in the surgery and his physios who looked after me so well! To @londonirish1898 for the brilliant communication and seem less transition from Leinster to you guys,Brian and Nick and the entire medical and S&C team were outstanding. And lastly to my friends and family and loved ones for your constant support, it drove me at times when people said I’d never get back or that I was crazy to try! I’m back and looking forward to what’s ahead of me with @londonirish1898 and where we can go as a club and I’m one happy man. #staypositive #wecanallgetoveranything
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“Lastly to my friends and family and loved ones for your constant support, it drove me at times when people said I’d never get back or that I was crazy to try. I’m back and looking forward to what is ahead of me with London Irish and where we can go as a club. I’m one happy man.”
The Irishman was one of the headline signings for the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership and London Irish can now look forward to having him fit for when the reason resumes.
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments