Biography
Conor Michael Patrick O’Shea was born on October 21, 1970, in Limerick, Ireland. He studied at Terenure College in Dublin, a school with a strong rugby tradition, before completing a Commerce degree at University College Dublin. He later earned a diploma in Legal Studies and a Master’s degree in Sports Management. The son of Jerome O’Shea, a Gaelic football legend, Conor followed a distinguished sporting path—this time in rugby.
Teams and Playing CareerClubs and Teams:
- Terenure College – until 1991
- University College Dublin (UCD) – early 1990s
- Lansdowne FC – 1992–1995
- Leinster Rugby – 1993–1995
- London Irish – 1995–2000 (127 appearances, 412 points)
National Team:
- Ireland – 1993–2000 (35 caps, 44 points)
World Cup Participation and International Caps
- International caps for Ireland: 35 (1993–2000)
- Rugby World Cups played:
- 1995 Rugby World Cup (South Africa): 3 matches
- 1999 Rugby World Cup (hosted partly in Ireland): 4 matches
Career Highlights
- Leinster’s first ever European try: Scored in the inaugural Heineken Cup in 1995.
- Zurich Players’ Player of the Season (1999): Recognized for outstanding performances with London Irish.
- International debut: Against Romania in 1993.
- Historic Twickenham win (1994): Played in Ireland’s first win over England at Twickenham since 1982.
- Premiership Champion with Harlequins (2012): Coached the team to their first-ever English league title.
- Landmark win with Italy: Coached Italy to a historic 20–18 victory over South Africa in 2016.
Personal Life
Conor O’Shea comes from a sporting family. His father, Jerome O’Shea, won three All-Ireland titles with Kerry in Gaelic football. Conor is known for his intelligence both on and off the pitch, supported by a strong academic background. After retiring as a player, he built a successful career as a coach and sports executive. He is currently the Director of Performance at the Rugby Football Union in England.