Gordon D'Arcy

Irish centre who formed one of the greatest midfield partnerships in international rugby with Brian O'Driscoll, setting a world record for centre-pairing appearances at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Born Gordon William D'Arcy in Ferns, County Wexford, on 10 February 1980, D'Arcy was fast-tracked into the Irish squad as a 19-year-old, appearing against Romania at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but managed only four more caps over the following three and a half years amid a difficult period with his provincial coaches at Leinster. D'Arcy rebuilt his career during Ireland's 2003 World Cup absence and returned to form, being voted Six Nations Player of the Tournament in 2004 as he helped inspire Ireland's first Triple Crown since 1985. He went on to form a legendary centre partnership with Brian O'Driscoll, helping Ireland to further Triple Crowns and the 2009 Six Nations Grand Slam. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, D'Arcy and O'Driscoll set the world record for the most Test appearances by a centre partnership, reaching 45 caps together and breaking the previous mark held by England's Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott. D'Arcy toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2005 and 2009. D'Arcy retired in 2015 as Ireland's longest-serving player at the time, with 82 senior caps, having won three Heineken Cups, a Challenge Cup and four league titles with Leinster, alongside two Six Nations titles with Ireland. He went on to write opinion columns on rugby for The Irish Times.

Steady tackler with great footwork and incisive running lines

One half of one of the greatest centre partnerships in international rugby history