Tomás O'Leary

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Lore & Background

O'Leary's Six Nations story is tightly bound to Ireland's 2009 Grand Slam. He started four of Ireland's five matches that season, playing a key role in a campaign that ended a 61-year wait for a Grand Slam. The following year, he scored his first international try in the 29–11 opening win against Italy in the 2010 Six Nations. His finest individual moment came on 13 March 2010 at Croke Park, where he was named Man of the Match after Ireland beat Wales 27–12. Injury disrupted his later Six Nations involvement: a broken thumb in October 2010 ruled him out for 6–8 weeks, and though he recovered to feature against Italy and France in the 2011 Six Nations, a troublesome back and a freak eye injury sustained during training ended his tournament early. He missed selection for the 2012 Six Nations squad, but a knee injury to Conor Murray saw O'Leary called into the Ireland squad for the remaining 2012 Six Nations games against Scotland and England.

In Their Own Story

The 2009 Six Nations was the peak. A year later, he opened his try-scoring account in the championship with a score in the 29–11 defeat of Italy. Then came that March afternoon at Croke Park: Ireland 27, Wales 12, and O'Leary walking off with the Man of the Match award. But the highs were followed by frustration. A broken thumb in October 2010 cost him weeks, and though he returned for the 2011 Six Nations, a back problem and a freak eye injury in training forced him out of the rest of that tournament. By 2012, he was in the Ireland Wolfhounds squad, missing the initial Six Nations selection, but a knee injury to Conor Murray brought him back into the senior squad for the final two matches against Scotland and England.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking O'Leary's Six Nations career, the key years are 2009 through 2012. In 2009, he started four of five matches as Ireland won the Grand Slam. In 2010, he scored his first Six Nations try against Italy and earned Man of the Match against Wales. In 2011, he played against Italy and France before injuries ended his tournament. In 2012, he was called into the squad late after Conor Murray's knee injury, playing against Scotland and England. O'Leary was also selected for the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour, but a broken ankle suffered in a Munster match against Scarlets on 24 April 2009 ruled him out. His international career included 28 caps for Ireland, with his first cap coming as a substitute against Argentina on 26 May 2007 and his first start against New Zealand on 15 November 2008.

Did You Know?

• O'Leary started four of Ireland's five matches in the 2009 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign.
• He scored his first international try in the 29–11 2010 Six Nations opener against Italy.
• O'Leary was named Man of the Match for Ireland's 27–12 win over Wales at Croke Park on 13 March 2010.
• A broken ankle suffered in a Munster match against Scarlets on 25 April 2009 ruled him out of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour.
• He was called into the Ireland squad for the final two matches of the 2012 Six Nations after Conor Murray suffered a knee injury.