Malcolm O'Kelly
 O'Kelly signing autographs at the RDS, November 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Malcolm O'Kelly 19 July 1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 119 kg (18 st 10 lb; 262 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Templeogue College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Trinity College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Malcolm O'Kelly (born 19 July 1974) is an Irish former rugby union player who played as a lock for Ireland and Leinster.
O'Kelly was born in Chelmsford, England, and attended Templeogue College secondary school in Dublin, Ireland. He has played for the Barbarians FC three times, wearing his old school socks.[2] O'Kelly completed a B.A. in Engineering at Trinity College, Dublin between 1992 and 1996.
The 6-foot-8-inch (2.03 m) O'Kelly, who made his international début in 1997 against New Zealand, became a talisman of the Irish side and became Ireland's most capped player, surpassing Mike Gibson, when he started the 2005 Six Nations fixture against Scotland.[3] He not only earned his 70th cap, but scored Ireland's first try in the match, giving them a lead they never relinquished. O'Kelly's final total of 92 caps was surpassed in 2009 by John Hayes.[4][5]
O'Kelly also played with the British & Irish Lions on their tour to Australia, and had been named in the Lions squad for their 2005 tour of New Zealand, but aggravated a groin injury in training and was replaced by Simon Shaw. He has five Lions caps.[4]
At the end of the 09/10 season, O'Kelly announced his retirement from professional rugby. He is the only player in the Heineken cup to have played since the start of the competition – 15 years. He has won a grand slam, the Heineken cup, the Magners League(3) and 4 Triple Crowns: he is also Ireland's third most capped second row. As well as that, he is a two time British and Irish Lion.
O'Kelly is a supporter of the children's charity Plan Ireland[6] and is a committee member of the rugby sevens club, Shamrock Warriors RFC.[7]
References
- ^ "All Fixtures & Results".
- ^ Barbarians Player Profile Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Thornley, Gerry (12 February 2005). "Malcolm in the middle maturing into a legend". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ a b Leinster Player Profile
- ^
- "Player ratings". The Guardian. 1 March 2009.
John Hayes ... Equalled Malcolm O'Kelly's Ireland record of 92 caps
- Butler, Eddie (10 March 2009). "Hines's return can help Scotland punch their weight". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
John Hayes ... will set a new Irish record by winning his 93rd cap
- "Player ratings". The Guardian. 1 March 2009.
- ^ "Plan and TV3 launch child sponsorship appeal". Plan Ireland. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- ^ "Shamrock Warriors Committee". Archived from the original on 2 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
External links
- Leinster profile
- Ireland Profile
- Profile at sporting-heroes.net, including caps from 1997–2000 (Retrieved 6 February 2005)
- Profile at sporting-heroes.net, including caps from 2001–2002 (Retrieved 6 February 2005)
- Profile at sporting-heroes.net, including caps from 2003–present (Retrieved 6 February 2005)