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'The time is right' - Sean O'Brien returns to Leinster in coaching role

The club legend replaces Denis Leamy as skills coach.

SEรN Oโ€™BRIEN WILL return to Leinster to take up the role of contacts skills coach, the province have confirmed.

โ€˜The Tullow Tankโ€™ left Dublin in 2019 to play with London Irish, having starred for Ireland, the Lions and Leinster in a stellar back row career. 

Oโ€™Brien, who announced his retirement in recent weeks, will replace Denis Leamy, who returns to Munster.

โ€œI always said that youโ€™d never know what the future holds and Iโ€™ve taken my time to work out whatโ€™s next for me,โ€ Oโ€™Brien says.

โ€œWhile I have loved my time with London Irish and living in London, the time is right to move back home and this is a brilliant opportunity now to get back and to get back to work with Leinster Rugby.

โ€œIโ€™d like to thank Leo for the opportunity and itโ€™s an exciting one. Building on the great work of Hugh Hogan and most recently Denis Leamy, I canโ€™t wait to get stuck in.

โ€œWorking with players that I already know but there is also some real talent coming through and to be having my first coaching opportunity back home at Leinster, is pretty special. Theyโ€™ve got a busy week ahead of them with Glasgow to come on Saturday and Iโ€™ll be a very keen supporter watching them to the end of the season.โ€

Head coach Leo Cullen added: โ€œIt is great to be able to welcome Seรกn back home to Leinster.

โ€œOn the rugby pitch, Seรกn at his best was virtually unplayable and he was an amazing contributor to Leinster, Ireland and the Lions. In a Leinster shirt, he played a key role in some of our greatest days on the European stage and we hope he can pass on some of his vast experience and winning mentality to our current squad.

โ€œI know that Seรกn has always been a keen student of the game and has been heavily involved with coaching in Tullow RFC going back to his early playing days. We believe he has a very bright future in coaching and I think itโ€™s a win-win for both sides to have him back here.

โ€œIn addition to his experience, Seรกn has always been a brilliant presence in the Leinster changing room and I think our group will be excited and energised by having him back involved.โ€

- Originally published at 13.31

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Jun 1st 2022, 1:52 PM

    Replace one warrior with another. Good.

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    Mute SPQH
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    Jun 1st 2022, 10:45 PM

    @Chris Mc: Seanie will right a few things ahead of next season.

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    Mute Trev
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    Jun 2nd 2022, 12:22 AM

    @Chris Mc: Iโ€™m sure you remember this quote from the 2017 Lions tour: Phil Gifford, from Stuff, who was critical of the Lions style of play in general, referred to Sean Oโ€™Brien as โ€œa flanker so tough and hard-edged heโ€™s basically a roll of barbed wire in boots.โ€ Great move by Leinster.

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    Mute Bgkph
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    Jun 1st 2022, 1:48 PM

    Great signing a great bit of business

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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Jun 1st 2022, 5:46 PM

    No need to clean the toilets in cassidys

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    Mute Trevor Johnston
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    Jun 1st 2022, 10:47 PM

    @Tony Mcgrath: bit of an insulting remark from a Munster supporter. Check your own coaches for a similar problem.

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    Mute Gally Had
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    Jun 1st 2022, 1:47 PM

    He might play a few games even. Would love to see it

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    Mute CAMILA REMONA
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    Jun 1st 2022, 5:52 PM

    I thought he was taking the pee ;)

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    Mute Martin
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    Jun 1st 2022, 9:30 PM

    @CAMILA REMONA: bad news for the Dublin homeless

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Jun 1st 2022, 2:12 PM

    Good project that hopefully works out

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    Mute Ro Molloy
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    Jun 1st 2022, 5:11 PM

    Seamus replacing Leamy. I wonder could we persuade Isa to come back and replace Dr. Phil?

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    Mute Martin
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    Jun 1st 2022, 9:31 PM

    RDS busy installing golden showers

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Jun 2nd 2022, 1:20 AM

    Out with the old, in with the new!

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