Dr Stuart O’Flanagan

FFSEM (Ireland) MFSEM (UK) MICGP BMBS MSc (Oxon) BSc Hons Physiotherapy

Dr O’Flanagan is the first Irish trained Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine. He has extensive experience in elite sport. He holds the roles of Leinster Rugby Team Doctor and Medical Lead to the IRFU National Rugby Sevens Programme. He joins SSC having returned from the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the Irish Men’s Rugby Sevens Team. He was also appointed as the Ireland Rugby Senior Team Doctor for the 2021 Summer Series.

Dr O’Flanagan initially trained as a Chartered Physiotherapist. He worked for a number of years with a focus on sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. He undertook a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Stellenbosch University Sports Performance Institute (SUSPI), South Africa. He covered a range of elite varsity sports including netball, hockey, tennis, athletics, swimming and soccer. He also worked with the Western Province/Stormers Super Rugby academy. He then read for an MSc in Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan completed his medical studies at the University of Limerick and primary specialist training in General Practice via the Trinity College Dublin/HSE Training Scheme. He subsequently completed Higher Specialist Training in Sports and Exercise Medicine through the FSEM in Ireland. Previous roles in sport include Team Doctor with Dublin GAA (Minor and U21 football teams) and with rugby teams including Ireland Club XV, Ireland U19, Ireland U20 (Junior World Championships 2018 & 2019), Leinster U18, 19, 20’s and A teams. Dr O’Flanagan also acts as an independent match day doctor for concussion and injury recognition at 6 Nations and international rugby games. He regularly consults with individual elite athletes including Major winning golfers on the European and US PGA Tours.

Dr O’Flanagan is passionate about physical activity and is a strong advocate for exercise prescription in all populations. He played rugby at semi-professional level in the English National League and the All Ireland League and was a recipient of the Major Stanley Rugby Scholarship at the University of Oxford.

Dr O’Flanagan specialises in the diagnosis and non-operative management of acute and chronic sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions in patients at all levels of sport and recreation as well as occupational related issues. Clinical interests include acute soft tissue injuries, concussion, illness and injury prevention in sport and diagnostic and interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound. He takes a particular interest in the medicine of high performance environments and works closely with elite athletes and teams to optimise performance and long term health.