TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid following the death of former Ireland and Munster prop Phil O’Callaghan at the age of 83.
The Cork native won 21 Ireland caps between 1967 and 1976, and made 34 appearances for Munster from 1966 to 1977.
“It is with great sadness that we learned that Philo passed away,” O’Callaghan’s club, Dolphin RFC, wrote in a heartfelt statement.
“Rugby has lost one of its greatest characters.”
Dolphin recounted how O’Callaghan’s rugby journey began when he went to a game as a spectator aged 16 and was asked to make up numbers, having previously played soccer and GAA.
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He went on to play in the Munster Senior Cup for almost two decades, and to represent his province, country, the Barbarians and Irish Wolfhounds.
O’Callaghan was part of the first Munster team to beat Australia in January 1967, while he won his first Ireland cap later that year against the same side at Lansdowne Road.
Inducted into the Munster Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016, O’Callaghan also coached the southern province’s underage sides and Dolphin and Sundays Well at senior level.
It is with great sadness that Munster Rugby have learned of the passing of Phil O'Callaghan.
A Dolphin RFC clubman, he made his Munster Senior Cup debut in 1961 having only taken up rugby the previous season and continued to play in the competition every year up until 1980.
He won 21 caps for his country between 1967 and 1976 and he was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2016.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam 🌹
#SUAF 🔴
Munster Rugby paid tribute in a statement on Monday: “It is with great sadness that Munster Rugby have learned of the passing of Phil O’Callaghan.
“A Dolphin RFC clubman, he made his Munster Senior Cup debut in 1961 having only taken up rugby the previous season and continued to play in the competition every year up until 1980.
“He won 21 caps for his country between 1967 and 1976, and he was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2016.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. SUAF.”
The IRFU added: “Everyone at Irish Rugby is saddened to learn of the passing of Phil O’Callaghan.
“We extend our sympathies to Phil’s family, friends and former team-mates at this sad time.”
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Tributes paid after death of former Ireland and Munster prop Phil O'Callaghan
TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid following the death of former Ireland and Munster prop Phil O’Callaghan at the age of 83.
The Cork native won 21 Ireland caps between 1967 and 1976, and made 34 appearances for Munster from 1966 to 1977.
“It is with great sadness that we learned that Philo passed away,” O’Callaghan’s club, Dolphin RFC, wrote in a heartfelt statement.
Dolphin recounted how O’Callaghan’s rugby journey began when he went to a game as a spectator aged 16 and was asked to make up numbers, having previously played soccer and GAA.
He went on to play in the Munster Senior Cup for almost two decades, and to represent his province, country, the Barbarians and Irish Wolfhounds.
O’Callaghan was part of the first Munster team to beat Australia in January 1967, while he won his first Ireland cap later that year against the same side at Lansdowne Road.
Inducted into the Munster Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016, O’Callaghan also coached the southern province’s underage sides and Dolphin and Sundays Well at senior level.
Munster Rugby paid tribute in a statement on Monday: “It is with great sadness that Munster Rugby have learned of the passing of Phil O’Callaghan.
“A Dolphin RFC clubman, he made his Munster Senior Cup debut in 1961 having only taken up rugby the previous season and continued to play in the competition every year up until 1980.
“He won 21 caps for his country between 1967 and 1976, and he was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2016.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. SUAF.”
The IRFU added: “Everyone at Irish Rugby is saddened to learn of the passing of Phil O’Callaghan.
“We extend our sympathies to Phil’s family, friends and former team-mates at this sad time.”
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October Phil O'Callaghan RIP Rugby