Academy Players Stepping Up | Jack O’Sullivan

Back-row forward Jack O’Sullivan is one of five Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players who have stepped up to a senior contract with Munster following the completion of their time in the Academy.

O’Sullivan, Diarmuid Barron, Liam Coombes, Keynan Knox and Alex McHenry are now members of the senior squad.

O’Sullivan is a Cork native and a product of PBC, where he won the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior and Senior Cups.

He comes from a sporting family and is first cousin to brothers Rory and Niall Scannell.

His father, Tadhg O’Sullivan, is a former Sunday’s Well player and has been a doctor with Munster Rugby for many years.

He joined the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy straight out of school and has been playing his All Ireland League rugby with UCC.

Having missed the majority of the 2018/19 season through injury, the 21-year-old made seven competitive appearances in red this campaign, including his Champions Cup debut against Ospreys in January.

On the charge for Munster A against Leinster A last December.

Signing a three-year contract…

“I was delighted. This is where I want to be and I love the place so it was great to secure my future here.”

Making a big impression in the 2019/20 season…

“After missing nearly all of the previous season with a knee injury I was really looking forward to hitting pre-season hard and giving it a good go.

“And I was delighted Johann gave me my chance early against Dragons to get my first cap, which was a massive day for me.

“And then I got a few more along the way and I was delighted to get my Champions Cup debut as well in there with Niall and Rory, my cousins.

“So that was a great moment for me as well because I’ve been watching them play all the way up so it was unreal to take the pitch with them in a European match.”

Jack O’Sullivan with his cousins Rory and Niall Scannell after his Champions Cup debut this year.

Joining the Academy in 2017…

“It was unreal because I went straight from school. I thought I might have had to do a year in the sub-Academy so it was a massive step up to go into such a professional environment.

“Going from school to that was a big step up and being in the Academy with players who already had senior caps, you learn an awful lot from spending so much time with those lads.”

In Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup action for PBC in 2017.

Starting off as a youngster…

“My Dad brought me out to Sunday’s Well when I was six. I played there until I was 12 and then I went to Pres for secondary school. That’s a massive rugby school and I had a good time there, we won the Munster Schools Junior Cup, the Bowen Shield and the Senior Cup.

“I played all sports growing up but rugby was always number one. I always had a massive love for it, especially with my Dad being involved. I would have been around the team a lot when I was a kid, in the team hotel and stuff, and I even got on the open top bus in 2008 when they won the European Cup in 2008. So I got a real drive from that, I always wanted to be there one day.”

Jack O’Sullivan was the mascot for the December 2008 Champions Cup clash against Clermont Auvergne.

Missing the majority of last season through injury…

“Just before going off the U20s World Championships in 2018, I injured my knee and I missed out. That was very disappointing and I was in rehabbing for the summer.

“I had great lads helping me and I got back playing around March 2019.

“Coming into the Academy I would have been relatively light so when I did my knee, I spoke to lads who had a similar injury. They just all told me to put my faith in the great medical staff we have to help my knee recover and that it was a great opportunity to put on a bit of muscle.”

Ireland’s Jack O’Sullivan is presented with the Man of the Match  award after the U20 6 Nations win over Scotland in 2o18.

Family ties…

“My Dad has been around rugby for a very long time and he’s been involved for Munster for years so he was very helpful with me when I was growing up.

“He loves Munster so he was a very proud Dad when I made my debut at Thomond Park, the whole O’Sullivan clan including about a hundred cousins made the trip to Limerick so that was a great day.”