The great Ronan O’Gara was badly wronged

While not wanting to take one whit from the richly-deserved adulation accorded by the Irish public to Brian O’Driscoll in the past few weeks to mark his international retirement, please let us spare a thought for another of our rugby superstars, Ronan O’Gara.

O’Gara’s playing achievements were no less outstanding than BOD’s. He is Ireland’s second most-capped player (128), and the third most-capped in rugby union history.

He is the all-time highest points scorer for Ireland and is the fourth highest points scorer in the history of rugby union. He also holds the Heineken Cup record for points scored (an amazing 1,365). He captained Munster, Ireland, and the Lions, and won four Triple Crowns with Ireland and two Heineken Cups with Munster.

Who will ever forget his drop goal in 2009 against Wales which won us our only Six Nations Grand Slam, or his nerveless 84th minute drop-goal, after 41 phases of play, to secure victory for Munster against Northampton in the 2012 Heineken Cup campaign? O’Gara was accorded no opportunity for a glorious and celebrated retirement from the international rugby fray.

His fate at the hands of Ireland’s then rugby management a year ago was to be left out of the 23-man squad for our final Six Nations game against Italy, which we lost. A great player was badly wronged.

Stephen O’Byrnes

Morehampton Road

Dublin 4