O'Driscoll named player of decade

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has been voted as Rugby World magazine’s player of the decade.

The Leinster centre announced his arrival on the world stage in 2000 with a stunning hat-trick in Ireland’s Six Nations victory over France in Paris.

O’Driscoll finished the decade captaining Ireland to their first Grand Slam in 61 years and playing an instrumental role in Leinster’s long-awaited Heineken Cup triumph.

A three-time nominee for the International Rugby Board’s world player of the year, O’Driscoll played on three British and Irish Lions tours, including one as captain.

Rugby World team of the decade:

M Muliana (New Zealand); J Robinson (England), B O’Driscoll (Ireland), M Giteau (Australia); D Carter (New Zealand), A Pichot (Argentina); G Jenkins (Wales), J Smit (South Africa), C Hayman (New Zealand), M Johnson (England, capt), V Matfield (South Africa), R Hill (England), R McCaw (New Zealand), S Parisse (Italy).

Replacements: R Roncero (Argentina), M Ledesma (Argentina), S Marconnet (France), JM Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina), F Du Preez (South Africa), J Wilkinson (England), Y Jauzion (France), JM Hernandez (Argentina).