O’Gara: How I deal with big-match nerves

RONAN O’GARA produced the perfect 10 against England at Croke Park last Saturday, but the Munster and Ireland out-half took time out yesterday to give an intriguing and stimulating insight into life as a professional rugby player on and off the field, including how the world-class out-half copes with pre-match nerves.

O’Gara was guest of honour at the Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star Awards in Dublin.

And he revealed how close he came to signing for a ‘loads a money’ French outfit before he agreed a new four year contract with the IRFU, insisting it would be “disloyal” at this stage to quit European champions, Munster.