Munster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Match Programme

TOMMY O’DONNELL
On his retirement…
“I feel as a player that getting game time and
being involved week on week is where you keep
yourself sharp and keep myself on top of the
game. I suppose with the possibility of reduced
game time, and also the fact that I knew how
my body was feeling in the winter months, in
the hard grind and the double sessions. I took
all the factors into account and I think that I
have given it socks and I wanted to call it on my
own terms as well. I didn’t want to go that extra
year too long and not to be performing to the
best of my ability. It would have done myself
an injustice but also have done the lads around
me an injustice. There are lads coming through
in the squad who are just as keen to learn, and
they are more physically able for the game of
rugby at this stage so, they will be just as able
to give it a good account next year than I would
have been at my stage in my career.”
On future endeavours…
“I suppose there’s some trepidation. It’s all I’ve
done for the last 12 years. You have to commit
to rugby. I know I have been working outside
of it and I have been adding strings to my bow
but if you want to be good at rugby, like if you
want that to be your craft, you have to commit
to it. I think Jamie Heaslip mentioned it in his
retirement - you have to be thinking about
retirement but focus enough on your career,
that you’re good enough and you develop
enough and that you're continuously getting
better and that you stay in rugby for as long as
possible. I have deliberately taken next year, like
the rugby has afforded me that time, I will have
an adjustment process, where I will be able to
get as much experience in the new industries
that I want to go into, in the new sectors. I’m still
quite undecided in exactly what road I’m going
to commit down to but I’m studying in MBA
and that’s very much helping me to get a broad
sense of the business aspects and how being
in an elite performance environment can be
helpful towards the business aspect.
I’m going to take the year, really
figure out what I’m going to do and I’m going
to get work experience in different industries
before I finally commit what I’m going to do for
the rest of my working life.”
On career highlights…
“It’s hard, there’s lots there. Each season has
its own different memories. There are different
Munster moments that stand out from each
season. Even though I wasn’t in the pitch, to be
in the stand even for the Clermont game. There
were the Saracens games, there’s the win in
Harlequins all the way back in 2012, to have been
involved on the podium the last time we won a
trophy in 2011/2012. There’s loads of different
moments throughout the seasons, and I suppose
from an individual point of view there’s getting
capped for Ireland, the successes with Ireland
that I has been involved in the Six Nations wins.
Being named Munster Player of the Year back in
2012. There’s highs and lows. There’s so many
of them that rather than one stand out moment,
there’s just a great collection of moments
across the career that really allow you to go into
retirement thinking you know yeah, I did a lot in
my 12 years as a pro, and that I gave it socks.”
MUNSTER v CARDIFF BLUES | 28.05.21 | THOMOND PARK
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