CORK BORN Tomás O’Leary is a livewire scrum half who excelled for Munster in their 2007/08 Heineken Cup winning  campaign and on the back of those performances  went on to make his first start for Ireland against the All  Blacks in November 2008.

He continued as first choice scum half for Declan Kidney’s side during the successful 2009 Grand Slam winning RBS Six Nations where his physicality and ability to mix it provided Ireland with a new dimension.

Educated Christian Brothers College and a son of hurling great Seanie O’Leary, Tomás turned his full focus on rugby after  winning an All-Ireland minor medal with Cork.

He was part of the Ireland team that reached the 2004 Under-21 World Championship final and has also played for the Irish Sevens side.