2009 Six Nations Championship their arrival at Dublin Airport. Brian O'Driscoll described 21 March as a “sweet, sweet day”. The game was watched by 945,000 people in Ireland, the highest rating television programme in the country by that stage of 2009. Former coach Eddie O'Sullivan was said to be "delighted" for the team. Brian O'Driscoll was named player of the tournament, beating Italy's Sergio Parisse and Ireland teammate Paul O'Connell. O'Connell was later named captain of the British and Irish Lions team to tour South Africa and containing fourteen members of the Grand Slam winning Irish team on 21 April 2009, describing it as
2009 Grand Slam of Darts ITV Wildcard Qualifier match, he was up against Darryl Fitton and comfortably won 5-1. In his next Group C match, he was up against Mervyn King and despite being the better player in terms of three dart average narrowly lost 5-4. In his last Group C match, he was up against Kirk Shepherd and lost 5-3 and was eliminated from the 2009 Grand Slam of Darts. 2009 Grand Slam of Darts ITV Wildcard Qualifier The 2009 Grand Slam of Darts ITV Wildcard Qualifier was the qualifying event for the 2009 Grand Slam of Darts which was held at the Magnum Centre in Irvine