Brian O’Driscoll has announced that he will join the Off the Ball team on Newstalk radio, starting in September.

The former Lions, Ireland and Leinster centre retired from professional rugby at the weekend, his final game cut short by a calf injury he sustained after eight minutes of Leinster’s RaboDirect Pro12 final victory over the Glasgow Warriors.

Commenting on his new role at Newstalk, O’Driscoll said: “Making the decision to join the Off the Ball team was an easy one for me. It’s the nation’s leading sports show and best radio station and following a break this summer I’ll be more than ready for it come September.”

Ger Gilroy, Sports Editor Newstalk pointed out: “We are thrilled that Brian has decided to join the Off the Ball team. Seriously though, his giant sports brain will be picked clean on a regular basis, we can’t wait.”

It’s a boost for Newstalk’s Off the Ball programme having lost some of its impact when their sports team left to become Second Captains (podcast each Tuesday and Thursday by The Irish Times).

O’Driscoll’s function will largely revolve around rugby punditry but he will also take on a co-presenting role from time to time and also offer his opinion on other sporting matters, particularly on a Friday.