Innovative Br O’Reilly was ahead of his time

His passing went largely unnoticed, even within the rugby family, which was strange, given how he shaped the careers of so many promising players in their formative years.

For me, he not only instilled a great love of the game but also the commitment and dedication required to maximise whatever talent I had.

Brother Philip O’Reilly, or ‘Rabble’ as he was affectionately known, was an exceptional man and a visionary in a sport he only became involved in by accident through his teaching role with the Christian Brothers.