Niall O'Donovan
{{Short description|Irish rugby union coach}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Niall O'Donovan
| image =
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| birth_name =
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| birth_place = Limerick, Ireland
| height =
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| ru_position = Number 8
| amatteam1 = Shannon
| amatyears1 =
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| clubs1 = Munster
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| coachyears1 = 19??–1996
| coachyears2 = 1996–1997
| coachyears3 = 1997–2001
| coachyears4 = 2001–2008
| coachyears5 = 2008–2012
| coachyears6 = 2012
| coachyears7 = 2012–present
| coachteams1 = Shannon (Head coach)
| coachteams2 = Shannon (Director of rugby)
| coachteams3 = Munster (Assistant coach)
| coachteams4 = Ireland (Forwards coach)
| coachteams5 = Ireland A (Assistant coach)
| coachteams6 = Munster A (Forwards coach/manager)
| coachteams7 = Munster (Team manager)
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives = Maeve O'Donovan (daughter)
| school =
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}}
Niall O'Donovan is an Irish rugby union coach who is currently manager of Munster, having previously coached Shannon, Ireland A and Ireland.
Career
O'Donovan spent his entire playing career with Shannon, representing the Limerick club for fifteen seasons and earning caps for Munster during eight of those seasons. After retiring from playing, he entered coaching and was head coach of the famous Shannon team that won the All-Ireland League in 1994, 1995 and 1996, and was director of rugby when the club completed their four-in-a-row in 1997. The team included the likes of Mick Galwey and Anthony Foley, who would go on to become Munster legends.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/shannon-s-secret-never-give-in-1.146238|title=Shannon's secret - never give in|date=25 April 1998|newspaper=The Irish Times|accessdate=22 June 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.balls.ie/rugby/shannon-rugby-1990s-349146-349146|title=Balls Remembers: Anthony Foley And The Great Shannon Team Of The 1990s|date=16 October 2017|work=Balls|accessdate=22 June 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/staff/niall-odonovan/|title=Niall O'Donovan Munster Coaching Profile|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 June 2019}}
Ahead of the 1997–98 season, O'Donovan joined the Munster coaching setup as an assistant coach alongside former head coach Jerry Holland and new head coach John Bevan.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-donovan-to-join-bevan-at-munster-helm-1.59380|title=O'Donovan to join Bevan at Munster helm|date=5 April 1997|newspaper=The Irish Times|accessdate=22 June 2019}} When Bevan left his role after just one season and Declan Kidney joined the province as head coach, O'Donovan was retained as an assistant coach, staying with the province until he was appointed as full-time forwards coach for the Irish national team under Eddie O'Sullivan in December 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2001/12/20/odonovan-appointed-forwards-coach/|title=O'Donovan Appointed Forwards Coach|date=20 December 2001|work=IRFU|accessdate=22 June 2019}}
After O'Sullivan was sacked following the 2008 Six Nations Championship{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/7306032.stm|title=O'Sullivan quits as Ireland coach|date=19 March 2008|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=22 June 2019}} and Declan Kidney took over as Ireland head coach,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2008/05/07/kidney-confirmed-as-new-ireland-coach/|title=Kidney Confirmed as New Ireland Coach|date=7 May 2008|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 June 2019}} O'Donovan was appointed as an assistant coach to Michael Bradley with Ireland A, who compete a level below the senior national team.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/irfu-look-to-odonovan-a-game-26484708.html|title=IRFU look to O'Donovan 'A' game|date=15 October 2008|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=22 June 2019}}
He was team manager and forwards coach for the Munster A team that won the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup and, in June 2012, was appointed as team manager for Munster, replacing Shaun Payne, who had returned to South Africa.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/munster-appoint-niall-odonovan-as-new-manager-484124-Jun2012/|title=Munster appoint Niall O'Donovan as new manager|date=12 June 2012|work=The42|accessdate=22 June 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2012/0612/324687-odonovan-is-new-team-manager-of-munster/|title=O'Donovan is new team manager of Munster on a two-year contract|date=12 June 2012|work=RTÉ Sport|accessdate=22 June 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2012/06/12/niall-odonovan-appointed-team-manager/|title=Niall O'Donovan Appointed Team Manager|date=12 June 2012|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 June 2019}} O'Donovan signed a three-year contract extension in June 2017, ensuring he will continue his long association with the province until at least June 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2017/06/13/contract-extensions-for-backroom-team/|title=Contract Extensions for Backroom Team|date=13 June 2017|work=Munster Rugby|accessdate=22 June 2019}}
Honours (as coach)
=Shannon=
- All-Ireland League:
- Winner (4): 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98
=Munster=
- IRFU Interprovincial Championship:
- Winner (3): 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
=Ireland=
- Triple Crown:
- Winner (3): 2004, 2006, 2007
=Ireland A=
- Churchill Cup:
- Winner (1): 2009
=Munster A=
- British and Irish Cup:
- Winner (1): 2011–12
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.munsterrugby.ie/staff/niall-odonovan/ Munster Profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070328211109/http://www.irishrugby.ie/402_392.php Ireland Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:ODonovan, Niall}}
Category:Rugby union players from Limerick (city)
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Munster Rugby players
Category:Irish rugby union coaches
Category:Munster Rugby non-playing staff