Victor Costello

Victor Carton Patrick Costello (born 23 October 1970) is a retired Irish rugby union player and Olympic shot-putter.[1][2]

Victor Costello
Birth nameVictor Costello
Date of birth (1970-10-23) 23 October 1970 (age 53)
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight122 kg (19 st 3 lb)
SchoolBlackrock College
Rugby union career
Position(s)Number 8, Blindside flanker
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1992–1994Blackrock College()
1994-1996/1997-2005St. Mary's College()
Correct as of 11 July 2014
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1996–1997London Irish8(5)
Correct as of 11 July 2014
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1993–1995Connacht()
1995-1996/1997-2005Leinster121(80)
Correct as of 11 July 2014
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1996–2004Ireland39(20)
Correct as of 11 July 2014

Athletics career edit

Costello is a former five-time Irish shot put champion;[3] he finished in 22nd place at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.[1][4][3]

Rugby career edit

Playing senior rugby throughout the 1990s until his retirement in 2005,[4] Costello's rugby career with Leinster and Ireland straddled the amateur and professional eras. He was part of the Irish team at the 2003 Rugby World Cup[1] and also had spells with Connacht and London Irish.[5]

Irish Rugby player file edit

  • Official Leinster caps: 126
  • Points scored: 80 (16 tries)
  • Celtic League/Cup caps: 38 (5 tries)
  • Heineken Cup caps: 57 (5 tries)
  • Senior debut: Friendly, 46–11 win v Natal XV at Anglesea Road, 25 October 1995
  • Heineken Cup debut: 24–21 win v Milan in Italy, 1 November 1995
  • Ireland caps: 39 (January 1996 – 2004)
  • Ireland points: 20 (4 tries)
  • Ireland "A" caps: 9
  • Ireland Under-21 caps: 2
  • Ireland Schools caps: 4
  • Leinster Under-20/21 caps: 1

Other work and family edit

Costello provides TV and radio analysis for RTÉ Sport on-field events in major athletics championships, including the 2012 London Olympics.[6][7][8] He also works as a pilot for Ryan Air,[9] and is a committee member of the rugby sevens club, Shamrock Warriors.[10] His sister Suzanne is an Irish international hockey player, sprinter and director of the Samaritans (Charity).[11] His father Paddy was also a shot putter and Irish International rugby player, playing second row.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Victor Costello Sports-Reference.com
  2. ^ "Irish Olympic Throwers". Irish Throwers Club.
  3. ^ a b "I was breaking my ass for 10 years in the shot put and then something like that happens". August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  4. ^ a b Costello to retire at end of the season RTÉ Support, 16 March 2005
  5. ^ a b "Leinster's Costello to retire". BreakingNews.ie. 16 March 2005.
  6. ^ RTÉ to provide 13 hours a day of coverage from London 2012 Irish Times, 13 July 2012
  7. ^ Let the Games Begin as RTÉ announces 2,300 hours of Olympic coverage RTÉ Sport, 12 July 2012
  8. ^ RTÉ Sport Kicks Off RBS 6 Nations Coverage RTÉ Sport, 3 February 2011
  9. ^ "Helping to tackle a new career". Irish Times. 10 October 2009.(subscription required)
  10. ^ "Ireland take first step on the 7s ladder". Scrum Queens. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Victor Costello's sister becomes charity director". BreakingNews.ie. 28 March 2007.

External links edit