There are not many great players in the world. There are even less great players who are also great people off the field as well and he was one of them. He was a great player and also a good man.
- Nigel Owens on Brian O'Driscoll.
As part of the #thirteen campaign with O2 we went and met some of the biggest names in world rugby, home and abroad. Our first series of interviews feature referee Nigel Owens, 2005 press officer for the British and Irish Lions, Alastair Campbell, and Australian rugby legend David Campese.
Campbell spoke about the 'pleasure and privilege' of working with BOD on the Lions tour in 2005; a player whom he describes as a 'phenomenon.' Meanwhile David Campese placed emphasis on the legacy O'Driscoll will leave, saying 'The future of the young kids in Ireland is to be like a Brian O'Driscoll.'
The legendary Irish centre will play his last Irish home match this weekend against Italy, with Nigel Owens refereeing the match. The Welshman said:
'I'm looking forward to it, as it's becoming my 50th cap and it's nice that it's here in Dublin because the first cap involved Ireland, and of course it's a bit more special then, that you're refereeing the last [home] international of one of the greatest players ever.'
Being a proud England fan Alastair Campbell stopped short of saying he thinks O'Driscoll will bow out with a Six Nations championship but did say 'It would be a fantastic way for him to end his career. I don't think anybody would not [sic] begrudge him that.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnzWcw1sFbc
Don't forget to get involved in the #thirteen campaign by sharing a photo featuring either number 13 or 'thirteen' on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and include the hashtag #thirteen. Each submission will raise €1 for Brian’s chosen charities Temple Street and the ISPCC (up to €10,000).
