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

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

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

  • 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

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