Shorter careers as pro game much tougher, warns expert doctor

TODAY’S professional rugby players will have to accept shorter careers or face serious, life-lasting injuries after they retire.

So warns Dr Conor O’Brien who is involved with The Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry. He also served as doctor to the Irish Olympic team in 1996 and was Leinster rugby’s team doctor for two seasons in the ‘90s.

Dr O’Brien is also a former chairman of the Irish Sports Council’s Anti-Doping Committee, a member of the World Anti-Doping Committee and has also played AIL rugby with Lansdowne.