Off The Ball had a busy day yesterday announcing both Ronan O’Gara and Kieran Donaghy as regular pundits.
O’Gara will join former teammates Brian O’Driscoll, Keith Wood and Alan Quinlan in the station’s radio and online coverage of international and European rugby.
Off the Ball announced a similar partnership with Johnny Sexton at the end of 2018 and it will be interesting to see the two of them together at some point between the end of the Guinness Six Nations and the World Cup. If schedules can be aligned that sounds like an OTB special to look forward to.
“Despite our disappointing loss at the weekend, 2019 is set to be the most highly anticipated year in Irish rugby history,” said Off The Ball managing Director Ger Gilroy.
“With our club sides in great shape and an abundance of world-class players vying for a green jersey in advance of the Rugby World Cup, we want to continue to deliver the best rugby coverage available.”
“Ronan’s success as a player and as a coach makes him the perfect pundit and analyst. His reading of the game is unique and he has never been one to hold back from calling it, as he sees it. We have done quite a bit of work with Ronan over the years and he always provides top-quality insights.”
As part of his new role with Off The Ball, O’Gara will a regular contributor across all Off The Ball platforms, on-air, online and at live events. He will add this to his existing commitments to coaching in New Zealand and to Virgin Media for their Guinness Six Nations coverage.
“The Off The Ball team has built an exceptional sports media brand and following,” said O’Gara.
“It’s respected by both sports fans and players – not just in Ireland, but also overseas. This is a huge year for Irish rugby and one that every former Irish player will wish they were involved in.”
“To be in a position to analyse every development, surrounded by a great team, is the next best thing and it’s an honour for me.”
Off The Ball’s GAA coverage will also be boosted by the signing of Kieran Donaghy, Kerry’s All-Star forward over the past decade who will also be joining.
“Kieran is a great asset to the Off The Ball line-up. His GAA record speaks for itself and he has never been afraid to speak his mind, so we know the depth of analysis he will bring to our GAA coverage will be outstanding,” added Gilroy.
“I’ve done quite a bit of work with Off The Ball over the years. From sitting alongside Darran O’Sullivan and the late great Graham Taylor, at a live broadcast from Glenbeigh in 2011, to numerous interviews throughout my senior career, I have always enjoyed and respected what the Off The Ball team does,” said Donaghy.

 


Image Credits: Sam Barnes, Sportsfile