After the ball: Donncha O’Callaghan on rugby, retirement and adapting to a new way of life

The former Munster and Ireland player is determined to leave behind a life of physical exertion and forge a path away from sport — but some old instincts die hard

Donncha O’Callaghan: ‘The competitive space for me now is somewhere else. How much can I push on after rugby?’ Picture: Cathal Noonan.

Donncha O’Callaghan was sitting at home, his head buried in the Irish Examiner’s sports section. The RTÉ and BBC websites were open on his screen as he scanned from one sports story to another, trying to get ahead of the day’s events before the 2FM sports radio show he co-hosts. The phone then beeped with a message from Derval O’Rourke.

“I’ve just done a 1k in 3.23. What would your best 1k time be?”

He ...