Leinster and Ireland rugby star Sean O'Brien likes the physicality of Gaelic football.

O'Brien lined out with the Fighting Cocks club in Carlow before his rugby career took off and he remembers one of his last games for the side, which was against neighbours and fierce rivals Clonmore.

The British and Irish Lions' flanker came on as substitute for the Fighting Cocks at a time when he was with the Leinster Academy in 2008.

A few heavy tackles were O'Brien's introduction to the game, but he admitted to the Carlow Nationalist that it was all parcel of the game.

"I remember that match alright," said O'Brien. "It was just lads saying I'll have a cut at this lad. That was all there was to it."

O'Brien has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad for this year's test series in Australia. Tweet

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