Brian O’Driscoll had to sell dummy and clear a ruck to win Amy Huberman

He was well used to dictating the play in his storied career as Ireland’s famous number 13, but Brian O’Driscoll has shown that he is equally adept at pulling the strings off the pitch when it comes to his love life.

O’Driscoll, whose autobiography, The Test, is released tomorrow, has revealed that he fabricated a ‘chance’ first encounter with his actress wife Amy Huberman, having seen her on an RTÉ chat show.

The former Ireland, Leinster, and Lions captain told the Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM that he contacted a friend who worked in PR after Huberman’s appearance on Tubridy Tonight and concocted a meeting with the actress in the Merrion Hotel.