Niall O'Donovan

Niall O'Donovan is an Irish rugby union coach who is currently manager of Munster, having previously coached Shannon, Ireland A and Ireland.

Niall O'Donovan
Place of birthLimerick, Ireland
Notable relative(s)Maeve O'Donovan (daughter)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Shannon ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Munster ()
Coaching career
Years Team
19??–1996
1996–1997
1997–2001
2001–2008
2008–2012
2012
2012–present		 Shannon (Head coach)
Shannon (Director of rugby)
Munster (Assistant coach)
Ireland (Forwards coach)
Ireland A (Assistant coach)
Munster A (Forwards coach/manager)
Munster (Team manager)

Career

O'Donovan spent his entire playing career with Shannon, representing the Limerick club for fifteen seasons and earning caps for Munster during eight of those seasons. After retiring from playing, he entered coaching and was head coach of the famous Shannon team that won the All-Ireland League in 1994, 1995 and 1996, and was director of rugby when the club completed their four-in-a-row in 1997. The team included the likes of Mick Galwey and Anthony Foley, who would go on to become Munster legends.[1][2][3]

Ahead of the 1997–98 season, O'Donovan joined the Munster coaching setup as an assistant coach alongside former head coach Jerry Holland and new head coach John Bevan.[4] When Bevan left his role after just one season and Declan Kidney joined the province as head coach, O'Donovan was retained as an assistant coach, staying with the province until he was appointed as full-time forwards coach for the Irish national team under Eddie O'Sullivan in December 2001.[5]

After O'Sullivan was sacked following the 2008 Six Nations Championship[6] and Declan Kidney took over as Ireland head coach,[7] O'Donovan was appointed as an assistant coach to Michael Bradley with Ireland A, who compete a level below the senior national team.[8]

He was team manager and forwards coach for the Munster A team that won the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup and, in June 2012, was appointed as team manager for Munster, replacing Shaun Payne, who had returned to South Africa.[9][10][11] O'Donovan signed a three-year contract extension in June 2017, ensuring he will continue his long association with the province until at least June 2020.[12]

Honours (as coach)

Shannon

Munster

Ireland

Ireland A

Munster A

References
  1. "Shannon's secret - never give in". The Irish Times. 25 April 1998. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  2. "Balls Remembers: Anthony Foley And The Great Shannon Team Of The 1990s". Balls. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  3. "Niall O'Donovan Munster Coaching Profile". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  4. "O'Donovan to join Bevan at Munster helm". The Irish Times. 5 April 1997. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  5. "O'Donovan Appointed Forwards Coach". IRFU. 20 December 2001. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  6. "O'Sullivan quits as Ireland coach". BBC Sport. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  7. "Kidney Confirmed as New Ireland Coach". Munster Rugby. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  8. "IRFU look to O'Donovan 'A' game". Irish Independent. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  9. "Munster appoint Niall O'Donovan as new manager". The42. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  10. "O'Donovan is new team manager of Munster on a two-year contract". RTÉ Sport. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  11. "Niall O'Donovan Appointed Team Manager". Munster Rugby. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  12. "Contract Extensions for Backroom Team". Munster Rugby. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
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