Eddie O'Sullivan

Eddie O'Sullivan (born November 21 1958) is the former head coach of the Ireland rugby union team. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/bbc_pundits/1700933.stm BBC Sport] ]

O'Sullivan was born in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. After attending the Christian Brothers school in the town, he graduated from Thomond College, which a decade later became part of the University of Limerick.

Early career

O'Sullivan played for the Garryowen Football Club during the 1970s and 1980s, while teaching physical education, maths, and science in Mountbellow, County Galway. He also played GAA, where, in 1982, he played corner forward on the Mounbellew Moylough Gaelic Football team that lost the Galway Senior Football Final.

He started his coaching career at a Galway club Monivea RFC before being appointed as a rugby development officer with the IRFU. He followed this with spells coaching at Blackrock College, (first as assistant, then as head coach) Connacht and the Irish Under-21 side. The Under-21 side won the 1996 Triple Crown, beating Clive Woodward's England.

After failing to secure a high profile coaching position in Ireland, O'Sullivan moved to America to coach the US Eagles. He was then appointed as the assistant coach of the Irish national side in 1999, and in 2001 as the head coach following the departure of Warren Gatland.

Ireland Career

Eddie O'Sullivan has been Ireland's most successful coach of the modern era. Ireland have won three triple crowns and risen as high as third in the world rankings.

After finishing third in the 2002 Six Nations Championship, O'Sullivan's Ireland went on to achieve second place in 2003, only losing the Grand Slam in the final match against England. At the 2003 Rugby World Cup his team lost to France in the quarter finals after dropping Anthony Foley and subsequently losing to France.

Ireland again finished second in the 2004 Six Nations Championship, losing the Grand Slam to France this time. After starting as many people's favourites for 2005, O'Sullivan's side slumped to third place with defeats by France and Wales. In 2006 only a poor first half performance against France cost O'Sullivan his first Championship and Grand Slam. [ [http://www.6-nations-rugby.com/sixnations_pastresults.htm 6-nations-rugby.com] ] . In 2007, a last-minute lapse in concentration in the game against France lost them that match, this time coming joint top on points (France lost to England), losing the championship on a count of points scored.

2007 World Cup Campaign

In August 2007, O'Sullivan's contract with the IRFU was extended for a further four years, which meant that he was contracted to be in charge of the Irish Rugby Team until 2012. Part of the terms of the contract allowed him to leave the position temporarily to coach the 2009 Lions squad, were he to be offered that role. [ [http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_8675.php?PHPSESSID=ee22249a3978865a367d95d0cb40 Irish Rugby] ] Soon, however, he was the subject of press criticism after a run of poor results. Ireland turned in poor performances in the opening matches of the World Cup against the lower rated Georgia and Namibia. They had previously also struggled in pre-tournament games against Italy, Scotland and Argentina. Criticisms included a failure to inspire passion in the team [ [http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/answer-this-eddie-1081786.html?r=RSS "Irish Independent"] ] and a failure to have developed any depth in the squad, which has been said to have caused complacency in the first team players. [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/worldcup2007/2007/0914/expertviewbrentandconor.html RTE] ] Many began to see the signing of his contract as a premature move, with an internet petition calling for his resignation after a poor start to the world cup. Ulster's Justin Harrison, an ex-Australia International, was scathing of the IRFU's decision to sign O'Sullivan a new contract. He was also criticised for his refusal to play Geordan Murphy, who had excelled in club games in England. [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/worldcup2007/2007/0914/expertviewbrentandconor.html RTE] ] [ [http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2007/comment/crazy-to-cast-murphy-adrift-over-old-lapse-1082378.html "Irish Independent"] ] . Rumours have abounded of conflict in the Irish camp stemming from this, and even that Murphy might leave the squad as a result. [ [http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,21043,13124_2738315,00.html Planet Rugby] ] The string of poor results continued with the failure of Ireland, for the second time in its history, to qualify for the knock-out stages of the World Cup, finishing 3rd in its Group with 2 wins and 2 losses.

End of Irish Career

On 19 March 2008, O'Sullivan resigned from his job after a disappointing 6 Nations campaign.

References

External links

* [http://www.irishrugby.ie/ IRFU Website]