Brent Pope

Cheerful, easy-going and witty rugby pundit, Brent Pope is an engaging after-dinner speaker whose lessons in sport, mental well-being, sport coaching and media insight gives him an ideal platform to entertain and motivate individuals and businesses alike.

Coach and TV commentator, Brent entertains audiences at corporate and private functions with hilarious stories about the characters from his career as a rugby player and coach. Brent also speaks honestly and eloquently about his mental health issues having suffered anxiety attacks for many years.

Brent is one of Ireland’s most sought after speakers given his accomplished and varied life story.

Brent is an ex New Zealand rugby player and former professional rugby coach, and is best known for his work with RTÉ Sport for over 25 years.

Brent has appeared all of Ireland’s best-known radio and television programmes such as the Late Late show, ‘The Restaurant, No Frontiers, ‘The Saturday Night Show’, The Ray Darcy Show, Claire Byrne Show, Morning Show and various other programmes.

He also writes a rugby column for various newspapers, and has a long running radio show. Brent has successfully published 6 children’s books to date, as well as a UK award winning autobiography titled ‘Brent Pope- if you really knew me’.

Last year Brent penned another best-selling book called ‘Win’ proven strategies for mental health and life. Describing his personal journey through mental health.

Brent was the curator of a popular Dublin art gallery for mental health artists called the ‘Outside In Art Gallery’, and made a RTE documentary about outsider art in 2013, that was runner in the national awards up for the best television documentary of that year.

Brent has also established a growing fashion brand aptly called POPE and is in over 100 stores nationwide.

Recently, Brent qualified as a psychotherapist and councillor working with many clients, both private and commercial. Against that background Brent is involved in several mental health charities, and is an ambassador for St Patrick’s Hospital, Pieta House, Cycle Against Suicide’, and many more.

He also chairs nationwide mental health campaigns such as IBEC’s The KeepWell Mark, and the annual Mental Health Summit.

Brent continues to work with many corporate organisations on mental health strategies – often sharing his heartfelt journey on overcoming his personal struggles with anxiety and what techniques he uses to make life more fulfilling.

Over the past 15 years Brent has worked with major companies in Ireland including Google, Microsoft, Indeed, Irish Life, Bank of Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians, HSC, Keatings and Sisk construction, as well as all the major Biotech companies.

In addition, Brent continues to be a witty, extremely professional MC and after dinner speaker, with an excellent reputation across all audience members.