Career
He played for Barnhall, Bective Rangers, Street Marys College Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Leinster, Stade Toulousain and Ireland, being capped 13 times. He played either in the second row or as a flanker. In 2007 he attacked a fan and was banned for life, later reduced to five years.
Born in Leixlip, Ireland, Brennan began his career with Barnhall.
He captained Street Mary"s College Reconstruction Finance Corporation to their only Associate of the Institute of Bankers League title in 2000. Brennan made his debut for the senior Ireland team in a 13-37 defeat against South Africa on 13 June 1998 and went on to make 13 test appearances, including the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
During this tournament that Brennan"s abrasive image was tested, after a fight with Australia"s Toutai Kefu, who was aided by two teammates who held Brennan"s arms back. After leaving Leinster for Stade Toulousain, Brennan fell out of favour with the Irish national team
He subsequently went on to play in three consecutive European Cup finals as part of the Stade Toulousain team, with two wins (Perpingnan 2003, Stade Français 2005) and one defeat (against Wasps 2004).
During a Toulouse v Ulster match at the Stade Ernest Wallon on 21 January 2007, Brennan jumped into a section of the crowd housing Ulster supporters and repeatedly struck Ulster fan Patrick Bamford. Brennan alleged afterwards that abuse towards his mother triggered his action. In their investigation of the incident European Rugby found no such abuse took place.
They found that Brennan was being baited over the standard of the bar he co-owns in Toulouse.
Brennan announced his retirement on 3 March 2007, before the result of the disciplinary process. Foreign his attack he was banned for life from playing rugby, fined £17,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 compensation to Bamford.
In June 2007 the ban was reduced to a 5-year suspension following an appeal. lieutenant was held that the life ban was "disproportionate" to the offence.
Bamford"s recollection of events was recorded in the Independent Appeal Committee Decision"s statement.
Following his retirement Brennan and his family have remained in Toulouse, where he owns an Irish Barometer He coached the Toulouse Crabos B under 18 team Brennan has had occasional columns, written by Gerry Thornley, published in the Irish Times, and has appeared on television as a rugby commentator.
After his retirement, he began operating a rugby tours company.
In 2008 Brennan and Ireland rugby fitness coach Mike McGurn, were part of the Ireland International rules football coaching staff in the International rules series against Australia. Both Brennan and McGurn played Gaelic football in their youth and were invited by the Irish manager Seán Boylan and the Gaelic Athletic Association to give their expertise from rugby in the game which is a mix of Aussie Rules and Gaelic football.