Declan O'Donnell
Encyclopedia
Declan O'Donnell, from Waikato
, is a New Zealand international rugby sevens
player who made his World Series debut in the 2010–11 season. He became an overnight sensation after he scored three tries for New Zealand during the final of the 2011 Wellington Sevens
against England.
, where the first match he recalls playing was for Hamilton and against arch rival Kelston High School. He was discovered by New Zealand head coach Gordon Tietjens
playing in a local tournament in Te Rapa
. Tietjens had tagged him as an "emerging player".
Within weeks of his discovery, he was on the main squad. After the first three legs of his debut season, O'Donnell had already scored 17 tournament tries. His hat-trick in the final of the NZI Sevens
made him an instant national hero, and put him jointly as top try scorers for the 2010–11 season along with South Africa's Cecil Afrika
and Fiji's Seremaia Burotu.
O'Donnell's play has been described as possessing pace, size, balance and a gravity-defying sidestep; as a club player, O'Donnell had a reputation for playing "hot and cold".
.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
, is a New Zealand international rugby sevens
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
player who made his World Series debut in the 2010–11 season. He became an overnight sensation after he scored three tries for New Zealand during the final of the 2011 Wellington Sevens
2011 Wellington Sevens
The Wellington Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2011 competition was held on February 4 and February 5 at Westpac Stadium....
against England.
Biography
O'Donnell is of mixed Irish-Maori descent. O'Donnell attended Hamilton Boys' High SchoolHamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School is a boys' secondary school in Hamilton, New Zealand. The school was established as Hamilton High School in 1903 but was later split into separate boys' and girls' schools. The school crest features a lion, sash and star, and bears the motto "Sapiens Fortunam Fingit Sibi"...
, where the first match he recalls playing was for Hamilton and against arch rival Kelston High School. He was discovered by New Zealand head coach Gordon Tietjens
Gordon Tietjens
Gordon Tietjens, CNZM is the current coach of the New Zealand Sevens team. He is regarded as one of the most successful sevens coaches in the world....
playing in a local tournament in Te Rapa
Te Rapa
Te Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of central Hamilton, New Zealand.Stretching in a long, thin north-south axis, Te Rapa is home to a large number of factories including Te Rapa Dairy Factory, one of the largest of its kind in the world...
. Tietjens had tagged him as an "emerging player".
Within weeks of his discovery, he was on the main squad. After the first three legs of his debut season, O'Donnell had already scored 17 tournament tries. His hat-trick in the final of the NZI Sevens
2011 Wellington Sevens
The Wellington Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2011 competition was held on February 4 and February 5 at Westpac Stadium....
made him an instant national hero, and put him jointly as top try scorers for the 2010–11 season along with South Africa's Cecil Afrika
Cecil Afrika
Cecil Afrika is a South African rugby union player. He is currently part of the South African sevens team where he plays at Flyhalf.-Career:Afrika represented the South African Schoolboys in 2006...
and Fiji's Seremaia Burotu.
O'Donnell's play has been described as possessing pace, size, balance and a gravity-defying sidestep; as a club player, O'Donnell had a reputation for playing "hot and cold".
International career
O'Donnell made his debut for New Zealand sevens team in the 2010 Dubai Sevens2010 Dubai Sevens
The Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens was played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2010 competition was held on December 3 and December 4 at The Sevens....
.