DOCTOR JAMIE ROBERTS graduated from Cardiff University to officially join the ranks of sportsmen in the medical profession.
The British and Irish Lions star may not get too much of a chance to practice medicine over the coming years as he will be busy with club [Racing Metro] and country [Wales]. Roberts, however, is keen to continue his studies and enter the profession when he eventually retires.
With Roberts’ recent graduation in mind, TheScore.ie is paying tribute, in no particular order, to the best sporting doctors out there.
Socrates – Soccer (Fiorentina, UCD & Brazil)
‘Dr Socrates’, the attacking midfielder, earned a doctor of medicine and earned his degree while playing professional football. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Jim Donovan – Limerick Football
The 6′ 4″ veteran of the Treaty County footballers missed out on their Division 4 Final win as he was studying for his Masters in Dublin.(©INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
Felipe Contepomi – Rugby (Leinster, Argentina, Stade Francais)
The outhalf, who gained legendary status at Leinster, earned two medical degrees from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Eanna Falvey – Boxing
The former National Intermediate Heavyweight champion is team doctor for the Irish rugby side and. He is pictured here with Conor Murray and Daniel ’007′ Craig after the Lions beat Australia. Falvey was on the Lions medical staff. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Stephen Lucey – Limerick Football & Hurling
The dual-star from Croom won two Hurling All Irelands and played in four Munster SFC finals. (©INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)
Gary O’Toole – Swimming (Ireland)
O’Toole won a 200m breaststroke silver at the European Championships in 1989. He represented Ireland at the 1988 and ’92 Olympics. (© INPHO)
JPR Williams – Rugby (Wales & Lions)
Williams was multi-talented and played tennis at a high level. He played fullback for the Lions on winning tours in 1971 and ’74. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Gerry McEntee – Meath Football
Five Leinster titles and two All -Ireland SFC’s for the former Meath midfielder. (©INPHO)
Pat O’Callaghan – Hammer Throw (Olympics)
The legendary Co. Cork athlete won Olympic Gold in 1928 and 1932. He set up his own practice in Tipperary in 1928. (EMPICS Sport)
Rodrigo Roncero – Rugby (Argentina & Stade Francais)
The Argentine offers Ronan O’Gara a helping hand in 2007… after barging him over. (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Ciaran McDonald – Tipperary Football
McDonald reflects on a qualifier defeat to Down after his side’s positive run in 2012. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Jack Kyle – Rugby (Ireland & Lions)
Kyle won the Grand Slam with Ireland in 1948. (©INPHO/Andrew Paton)
Jannie du Plessis – Rugby (Sharks & South Africa)
The Springbok was told he was in his country’s World Cup squad in 2007 shortly after finishing a nightshift at Blomfontein hospital. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Pat O’Neill – Dublin Football
The sports injuries consultant (left) won All-Ireland SFC’s with The Dubs in 1976 and ’77 and coached the footballers to more success in 1995. (©INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)
Other sporting doctors of note, with thanks to our readers, include Pádraig Carney (Mayo), Ian Robertson (Dublin), Noel McCaffrey (Dublin) and David Hickey (Dublin).
*Are there any sporting doctors that we have missed?
Roy Keane – Dr Death. Specialised in invasive bone tissue treatment. Late of Man Utd and Ireland.
Dr pat o Neil – won 2/3 all Ireland’s with Dublin in the 70s and managed them to win in 95. Dr Ian Robertson former dub captain , dr noel mcaffrey father of current player jack, dr Gerry McEntee , dr David hickey – both have carried out pioneering surgery in Ireland
John o’Driscoll. Played rugby for Ireland and Lions while also acting as both teams doctor. Remember him stitching a cut on Slattery in the middle of an Ireland game he was playing in.
Dr. Pat O’Callaghan. Two Olympic gold medals for Ireland.
Cheers Gary and thanks to all so far for the suggestions for additions and mentions.
Tomas Casteginede (sp) took a couple of years off from the french national team to continue his studies as the game turned pro.
Hugo Sanchez was a qualified dentist.
Mark Foley – centre forward for Cork when they won the AI in 1990. He was a dentist too.
I assume they count?
Richard and John brown cork cornerback/fullback in the ninetys and naughties.. Alan’s brothers
Our olympian Paul hession
Kerry’s Dr Sean Murphy…had the 1959 All-Ireland football final named after him. 3 All-Irelands, on teams of century & millennium.
Lucky won no hurling all.irelands as Limerick were not winning any at the time Best of luck for2013.
You should read the article first before commenting, it says he won 2 all Ireland’s not 2 senior all Ireland’s which he won in 2000 and 2001 at u21 level
You speak of a ‘Tipperary footballer’ with such disdain Spod from your GAA moral high ground in Mayo. Well if you want to play the history game here’s a few facts for you to ponder.Tipp footballers have more all Irelands won than Mayo footballers, four to three, that must be hard to hear. Tipp also have the same number of all Irelands won in the last 60 odd years as Mayo, zero. Put forward a case for who ever you want, fine, but leave the mentioned counties and players out of it.
There’s a Tipperary footballer and no mention of Mayo’s flying doctor padraig carney and dr. joe gilvarry, 2 all Ireland’s Each i might add!
Sorry but he hasn’t accomplished much so far on the senior stage it’s a bit early to add tribute!
Dr Seamus Looney, Cork and St Finbarrs; Dr Jim Young Cork (4 in row) and Glen Rovers;
And Socrates didn’t go to or play for UCD. But he was a doctor and a very heavy smoker
Pablo alfaro – http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2004/feb/03/europeanfootball.sport so nuts he gave an opposition player a free prostate exam during a match
Have to respect dentists / surgeons who plAy sports such as hurling where a common injury such as a broken finger could end a career wielding the scalpel !
You left out a distant relative of mine named Dr Kevin O’Flanagan who played both soccer and rugby for Ireland and also Arsenal all while being a practicing GP.
In a parallel universe there must be a physician writing an article saying ‘ a tribute to the worst scribbler to think of a topic’. “Our tribute to some of the best doctors to play sport”???
It ought to read if at all ” …some of the best sporting doctors. The tag line corrects the error in fairness ie best-sporting-doctors. Since we’re here, not a bad list with the unique Dr Sócrates. Who could forget Ken Kennedy? I guess many here!
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