Brian O'Driscoll

I'm an eternal optimist.

— Brian O'Driscoll

Rugby takes its toll.

— Brian O'Driscoll

You want to win everything you are in.

— Brian O'Driscoll

My missus knows to leave me alone.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I'm very much a glass-half-full person.

— Brian O'Driscoll

There's ego in all of us rugby players.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I didn't know Ian Smith myself!

— Brian O'Driscoll

I still get a great buzz from rugby.

— Brian O'Driscoll

If you start thinking about retirement in six months' time, you're already there.

— Brian O'Driscoll

Growing up, I supported Manchester United, and my hero was Mark Hughes.

— Brian O'Driscoll

That's what happens in the world. You get offered superior contracts.

— Brian O'Driscoll

A physical therapist does some unbelievable stretching with me.

— Brian O'Driscoll

It feels great to be a two-time Six Nations winner.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I need to worry about the things that I am in control of.

— Brian O'Driscoll

You cannot say things one week and then behave differently.

— Brian O'Driscoll

The victory is always sweeter... winning things with friends.

— Brian O'Driscoll

Until you win a series, it's difficult to place yourself in that elite group of great Lions players. It's not enough to…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I had come across a few sports psychologists, and I had no time for nearly all of them. I just don't think…

— Brian O'Driscoll

For me, it took five years to understand what professionalism meant. But I'm more settled now. I'm married, life changes, and I've…

— Brian O'Driscoll

You have perspective when little people come into your life. You take the best things you have and let them overshadow your…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I've been a professional rugby player all my life; I don't really know anything different.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I have interests outside of rugby and have been cultivating them for when I do decide to hang up the boots.

— Brian O'Driscoll

The great thing about playing team sport is you win and lose together, and the pain is never as bad when you…

— Brian O'Driscoll

Before there was any chance to go to England, I changed schools, and it was rugby from there on in.

— Brian O'Driscoll

When you've done something for more than a third of your life, your whole adult life, and then all of a sudden…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I love going out every day and training and being part of the team, and having friendships built up over a number…

— Brian O'Driscoll

If you can be a good role model for people, well, great. You try and live your sporting life and the rest…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I found in the past when I did a bit of punditry, I was very conscious of not saying anything negative about…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I've always found when I was captain when other people were doing the talking for me, I didn't need to say as…

— Brian O'Driscoll

Your name or what you've done on the rugby pitch is not going to carry you through for the rest of your…

— Brian O'Driscoll

People talk about loyalty of players to clubs. But in the everyday world, you don't see people being loyal to their company…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I was quite small as a kid and maybe a little afraid physically. When I grew into myself, the realisation changed. That…

— Brian O'Driscoll

I've never bought a sports car.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I think my form dipped after the Six Nations in 2007, from the World Cup onwards.

— Brian O'Driscoll

Just because you lost your last game doesn't mean you change anything.

— Brian O'Driscoll

When you are captain, you are never speaking for yourself.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I enjoy training so much, sometimes I don't want it to stop.

— Brian O'Driscoll

As you get older, the defeats become more painful. They definitely hurt more.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I was a football fan before I became a rugby fan.

— Brian O'Driscoll

I would say I thrive in a competitive environment.

— Brian O'Driscoll