Trevor Brennan

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Trevor Brennan


caption =
birthname =
nickname = Barnhall Bruiser
birthyear = 1973
birthmonth = 09
birthday = 22
placeofbirth = Leixlip, Ireland
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|ft=6|in=5
weight = 17 st 5 lb (110 kg)
ru_position = second row|capital=yes or flanker|capital=yes
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Ireland
ru_nationalyears = 1998-2001
ru_nationalcaps = 13
ru_nationalpoints = (0)
ru_ntupdate = 2007-03-13
ru_clubyears = 2002-2007 2001-2002
ru_proclubs = Stade Toulousain Barnhall Bective Rangers St Marys College RFC
ru_clubcaps = 98
ru_clubpoints = (20)
ru_clubupdate = 2007-03-13
ru_currentclub =
ru_province = Leinster Rugby
ru_provinceyears = 1996-2001
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps =
ru_sevensnationalpoints =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Owner of the bar De Danu in Toulouse
family =
spouse = Paula
children = 3
relatives =
school =
university =

Trevor Brennan (born 22 September, 1973, Leixlip, Ireland) is a former rugby union player for Barnhall, Bective Rangers, St Marys College RFC, Leinster Rugby, Stade Toulousain and Ireland; being capped 13 times. He played either in the second row or as a flanker.

Trevor captained St Mary's College RFC to their only AIB League title in 2000. A very physical forward, he was a firm fans' favourite at the south Dublin club. He began his career with Barnhall.

After leaving Leinster for Stade Toulousain, Brennan fell out of favour with the Irish national team. He subsequently went on to play in three back to back European Cup finals as part of the Stade Toulousin team, with two wins (Perpingnan 2003, Stade Français 2004) and one defeat (against Wasps 2004)

Coaching and life in Toulouse

Following retirement from professional rugby in 2007 Trevor and family have remained in Toulouse. Trevor currently coaches the Toulouse Crabos B under 18 team and owns the De Danu Irish Bar in Toulouse. The De Danu is widely considered one of the best sporting bars in Toulouse and is a firm favourite for Toulouse fans on match day. Additionally Trevor continues to write for the Irish Times in his article "Trevor Brennan Diaries" and appears on television as commentator for various rugby events including the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Incident and Retirement

Brennan announced his retirement on March 13th 2007, after an incident during a Toulouse v Ulster match on January 21st, 2007. Brennan jumped into a section of the crowd housing Ulster supporters at the Stade Ernest Wallon and repeatedly struck Ulster fan Patrick Bamford. Trevor alleged afterwards that abuse towards his mother triggered his reaction. In their investigation of the incident European Rugby found no such abuse took place. They found that Brennan was being baited over the standard of the bar he co-owns in Toulouse.

For this attack, he was fined £17,000, ordered to pay £3,000 compensation to Bamford and was banned for life from playing Rugby. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/6459417.stm]

An appeal of this decision was heard in June 2007, before an ERC-appointed, independent appeals committee, where the ban was reduced to a 5-year suspension. It was held that the life ban was 'disproportionate' to the offence. Mr Bamford's recollection of events (and of those around him) are on record and can be found in the Independent Appeal Committee Decision's statement [http://www.ercrugby.com/images/content/cupstandard/TrevBrennan1June2007.pdf]

ports Book Award

In 2007 Brennan won the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year Award for his book Heart and Soul. The book, which was written with the assistance of Irish Times journalist Gerry Thornley, depicts Brennan from his time growing up in Leixlip and playing for Barnhall right through to his time at Toulouse where he won two European Cups before his eventual five-year ban from rugby following an altercation with an Ulster fan during a game.

References

External links

* [http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=3891&includeref=dynamic Ireland profile]