Hailing from Co.Cork, Tomas originally excelled at hurling winning an All Ireland minor medal with Cork, before switching his focus to rugby.
A member of the Irish U21 side who lost in the 2004 Junior World Cup to New Zealand, O'Leary made his break onto the Munster scene in the 2008 season when he was preferred to legend of the game Peter Stringer for the opening Heineken Cup game of the season.
Later that season he made his international debut against Argentina and was a permanent fixture in the Grand Slam side of 2009. After some impressive performances he was selected on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa but missed out after suffering an ankle injury.
In October 2016, O'Leary joined French Top 14 side Montpellier Hérault Rugby as a medical joker replacement for the injured Benoît Paillaugue.
In July 2017, O'Leary announced his retirement from professional rugby. O’Leary began his professional career with Munster in 2005, before winning the Heineken Cup in 2006 and 2008.
The Dolphin club man also played an integral role in Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam victory in 2009, as first choice scrum-half.
The former Cork minor hurler has a unique distinction of playing first class rugby in the Guinness Pro12, the Aviva Premiership with London Irish and in the Top14 with Montpellier where he finished his career. He played over 200 first-class games throughout his career and now moves on to the next chapter in his life.
(July 2017)
Career
 |
Ireland Scrum Half |
2007 - 2014 |
 |
London Irish Scrum Half |
2012 - 2015 |
 |
Munster Rugby Scrum Half |
2005 - 2016 |
 |
Montpellier Scrum Half |
2016 - 2017 |
