Peter O'Mahony, the former captain of Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, has spoken openly about the need to change his approach to rugby, revealing that his intense fear of losing once caused him despair. In a quiet evening in Dublin, as a new season loomed, the 37-year-old reflected on a career defined by taciturn grit and uncompromising commitment, now replaced by more complex reflections.
A hard-edged game takes its toll
O'Mahony, who won 114 caps for Ireland, writes in his new book about the philosophy that once prevailed at Munster. Before a European Cup game, players were made to believe they needed to act selfishly and harshly towards their families at home, to convey the magnitude of the game. He admits this approach eventually took its toll, particularly before his third and final World Cup in 2023, when his young son Theo was bereft that he was going away again.
"If you drove past me on the road to Cork, you would see the real Peter O'Mahony sitting alone in his car, crying tears he didn't know he had," he writes. O'Mahony changed his pre-game rituals for Munster, happily supervising his three kids at a playground on the morning of home games. "Was I missing something by not being [selfish]? I don't think so."
Coaches: 'a little bit cracked'
O'Mahony describes all of his coaches, with the notable exception of Andy Farrell, as being "a little bit cracked". He says: "I think they're all a bit mad. You have to be a bit mad to be that obsessed. If you look at the way Andy played, and how aggressive and confrontational he was, there were times when he'd have seemed a bit cracked as well. It just wasn't something he passed on to us. Andy was able to always get things right, and communicate so well in a hugely pressured environment."
Farrell, who has had such success as Ireland's head coach, emerges as a compassionate and fully rounded man who wants his players "to be inquisitive and curious". Joe Schmidt, for whom Farrell worked as defence coach, transformed O'Mahony and the entire Ireland team as head coach from 2013 to 2019. "Joe brainwashed us in some ways," O'Mahony says. "A play would be called, and I didn't have to think about anything."
Best coach he played under
Ireland won the Six Nations championship three times, including the grand slam in 2018, during Schmidt's tenure, but failed at the World Cup. O'Mahony is candid about Schmidt's limitations, noting he never seemed able to communicate easily away from the rugby field, a stark contrast with Farrell. He describes Farrell as the best coach he ever came across, despite also playing under Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber at Munster.
O'Mahony says of Erasmus: "Rassie had a closed-door policy, but he was very good in other ways. He put in a creche so that the partners could come to games. But if you were whinging about getting an extra ticket or two when you weren't performing, you were getting nothing." He adds that Erasmus's ability to motivate South Africa is "clearly at an even higher level" and that he is able to put a bit of fear into you, the fear of losing, the fear of not performing.
Pain over Munster exit
Despite being at peace with rugby now, O'Mahony admits the hurt that Munster caused him at the end of his career lingers. He was about to be named as Ireland's new captain when, in late 2023, Munster fell strangely silent about his new contract. He writes that Graham Rowntree, who coached Munster then, threw a pen across the floor for him to fetch "like a fucking dog". He says: "It still burns. I'd be lying if I told you anything else. I enjoyed 99% of my time at Munster but there were numerous occasions when I was going to announce my retirement and they'd say: 'No, hang on and let's see.' We were getting mixed messages. It's ruthless but I still felt let down."
He shrugs: "I love Munster. I still want the club to do well – for the good people there. That will never change." He would be more than happy to help with advice, but does not think there is a place for him there at the moment.
Life after rugby: gardening and TV
O'Mahony has no plans to become a professional coach, but he helps out his old club, Cork Constitution, one night a week. "I get up there on Thursday nights and help the coaches a bit. It's so different [to professional rugby]. The guys are coming from work and there's a huge enjoyment factor. I grew up at Con as a small boy and my two boys are playing there now. So I have a huge amount of thanks to give to Con and it's nice to give a little bit back."
Instead, he has "set up a gardening lifestyle business" and is doing a bit of rugby work on TV. He describes gardening as "therapy for me. I like the work and I like seeing things grow and change and mature. It's very rewarding." He has agreed to "do a gardening book – it would be a bit about our own garden, a bit of what to do in each season or each month". Asked which of his coaches most resembles Monty Don, he answers with a small smile: "I don't think any of them were that balanced and calm."
