‘I was a bit of a w*nker,’ one Irish rugby star talks about his career

Former Munster player and Irish rugby international Ronan O’Gara has revealed the perceptions he believes people had of him as a player.

He was at Cork Opera House last night speaking with Newstalk as part of a panel previewing the Rugby World Cup. During their chat Ronan admitted that he knows some people may not have looked too favourably on him.

"The perception of me when I was playing was cranky, narky, arrogant, bit of a w*nker,” he said.

He has also spoken with the Irish Times of late about how difficult he found it when his personal life began to receive more attention than his sporting career, and it wasn’t all positive.

“Obviously it was new when you hear personal stuff about you. Anything but rugby you couldn’t care less but something like a marriage being over when there is absolutely no basis is too severe.”

It doesn’t look like he’s let any of that get to him now as he’s pretty content with his latest gig off the field. He had an interesting take one what life is like as a TV pundit.

"I essentially get paid to sit on my arse and watch the team. It's great. You live like a king."

Sounds like someone is living the dream.

"You've great facilities, you sit down, you've runners getting you tea, coffee, purple snacks, yellow Snacks, sandwiches, chips," he said.  

To be fair, it is not as if all of this ‘purple Snack’ luxury hasn’t been earned. Ronan is Ireland’s second most-capped player behind Brian O’Driscoll and the fourth most-capped in Rugby Union history.