Columns - Irish Examiner

Ronan O’Gara

An Irish rugby legend and record‑setting out‑half turned elite coach with La Rochelle. A prominent pundit known for frank, compelling, agenda-setting analysis.

Ronan O’Gara: Players, coaches will like the idea of being big in Japan. Me? Not so much

I love Japan as a country, but I think I will be in La Rochelle for the foreseeable future

Fri, 22 Jan, 2021

Ronan O’Gara: Making an (unsuccessful) play for Munster starlet Jack Crowley

Jack Crowley is happy to bide his time and make his mark with Munster. I know all this because he has turned down the chance to sign for La Rochelle

Fri, 15 Jan, 2021

Ronan O’Gara: I may not be much good, but at least I’m officially qualified now

The notion of studious, bespectacled gurus analysing statistics and data in the coach’s box is a seducing one, but down pitchside is where it’s at. Think GAA mentality

Fri, 08 Jan, 2021

Ronan O'Gara gets off the Ireland team bus 21/3/2009

Ronan O'Gara: The torment, the thrill and the private thoughts on a team bus

Ronan O’Gara faces a long bus trip today with La Rochelle. Over his career, those journeys have seen every emotion

Thu, 31 Dec, 2020

Ronan O'Gara: When Limerick kids look for heroes these days, where do they turn?

Come Sunday afternoon, I did what any full-blooded Irish man does on All-Ireland final day — I became a hurling expert

Fri, 18 Dec, 2020

Exeter Chiefs v Racing 92 - European Champions Cup Final - Ashton Gate

Ronan O'Gara: There's Europe's top four. And the rest.

Champions Exeter, Leinster, Racing 92 and Toulouse will take all the beating, and not even the blitz-type feel of the competition format should change that

Fri, 11 Dec, 2020

Brian O'Driscoll, Mick Kearney, Devin Toner and Cian Healy watch the last minutes of the game 24/11/2013

Ronan O’Gara: The day I didn't want Ireland to win - and why

Ireland are 22-17 in front, history is in their sights but I am utterly conflicted

Fri, 04 Dec, 2020

Ronan O'Gara: Conor Murray’s goose cooked? Far from it. It’s just the brutality of pro sport

Just because there’s a potential Test nine putting pressure on Murray doesn’t mean anything more than a good selection dilemma for Andy Farrell and Irish rugby

Thu, 19 Nov, 2020

Johnny Sexton and Billy Burns 12/11/2020

Ronan O'Gara: Stockdale’s mulligan, Scotland’s defence and those fast-twitch fibres…

For Andy Farrell and his opposite number Wayne Pivac, these are games to build a squad and put their stamp on it.

Fri, 13 Nov, 2020

Ronan O’Gara: Are we watching the next world champions in Paris?

France are nowhere near the finished article - but they have time

Fri, 30 Oct, 2020