O’Brien content to shirk the limelight

IT’S not what you’d expect from an international rugby player but for Tullow’s Sean O’Brien, a place away from the limelight at a rural club cup was home.

Fresh from being named Ireland’s player of the championship the bulldozing flanker spent the day after helping Ireland kill off England’s Grand Slam hopes with his club in the Towns Cup.

It was a big match against Leinster League Division 2 high-flyers Longford and as team coach he had to refocus his efforts on the “big one”. Being named third on the championship’s player of the tournament list paled into insignificance.

“You can only get these things off the field so I suppose in that sense it was grand,” he said.

After making his debut in 2010 against the Italians it was his first full campaign in a starter’s role.

“It was brilliant to play every game to be honest. I made it a goal to get into the team and once I got in there I wanted to get my place. I’m delighted with the way it went and to get all those starts.

“It’s always nice to be recognised, especially after a major competition like the Six Nations, and I’m very happy with that.”

Andrea Masi became the first Italian to win the award with 30% of the 17,000 votes with fellow countryman Fabio Semenzato coming in second. O’Brien, not for the first time, took the honours ahead of England’s Toby Flood.

Masi said: “Italian rugby continues to strengthen and we are very happy with our progress as a team. To be the first Italian voted to win this award by the fans is a huge compliment.

“It has been a championship of highs and lows for the Italian team, our win against France will go down in rugby history but to finish sixth frustrated us all.”