The Big Interview: How power of David Sharkey’s words helped Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle reach summit

David Sharkey’s helps teams by tapping into the power of stories and themes. He has played an important part in the successes of La Rochelle and the Westmeath footballers. 

20 May 2023; La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara celebrates after the Heineken Champions Cup Final match between Leinster and La Rochelle at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

On Friday evening, we asked the players: Who will you take on your Everest this weekend?

David Sharkey, from Mullingar, is an important part of the La Rochelle jigsaw. He’s based in London and works remotely with us on themes. My brain isn’t wired for connecting all the themes into something linear and cohesive, so he manages to tie it all together nicely. He’s an English teacher, which helps because his use of language is good. I tell him what I am thinking and he develops the theme.