BILLY DARDIS INTERVIEW
Dardis ready to move from the fringes to a key role
By Daire Walsh
AS the side’s starting full-back, former Newbridge College student Billy Dardis is expected to be one of Ireland’s key performers in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
The Naas man (who registered tries in this year’s Six Nations victories against Italy and France) is one of eight survivors from last year’s squad – who achieved a fourth-place finish in New Zealand – and although he wasn’t heavily involved in that particular tournament, he is hoping that his 2014 Junior World Cup experience can be of benefit to the newcomers in the international set-up.
“I wasn’t really involved [last year]. I was part of it anyway, and I got a feel of how it all goes. I took a lot from that, even just being around and seeing what the set-up is. It’s a very intense environment,” Dardis remarked prior to the squad’s departure.
“There’s only a short amount of time between games, so it’s all about that recovery and getting yourself mentally in the right mind-set for the next game. I think there’s eight of us now that played last year, and we’re going over for a second tournament. We’re kind of giving the lads a few tips, and advice on how it goes.”
Dardis is one of three Kildare natives in Nigel Carolan’s 28-man squad along with Joey Carberry and Jeremy Loughman, and although he had to wait until this season to share a dressing room with the Athy duo, he has faced them at local club level in the past.
“I remember, Jeremy and Joey both played for Athy, and I would have played for Naas Rugby Club up until I think it was about U11 or U12. I think Jeremy was a centre back then! I suppose it is great to have three people from Kildare going over.”
“They’re progressing nicely, and it’ll be their first time in the World Cup this year. It will be a very good experience. Those two have a lot of rugby ahead of them in the years to come. It’s only really the start for those two.”
Now that he is plying his trade with Leinster ‘A’ and UCD, Dardis spends most of his time in the capital. However, he still lives in his hometown, and does spend some time on the training field in Forenaughts.
“I’d be down there every now and then. If I went down there I’d know a few faces. As you move on, the faces also get older, so the players move on and the coaches move up.”
“I go down there and do a bit of my own training. I go down there kicking every so often. I think they’re doing fairly well at the moment. I wouldn’t be down there a huge amount. I still live down in Naas, but I spend most of my time up in Dublin training and going to college.”
There is a strong Naas presence in the provincial set-up, though, and having guys like Jamie Heaslip and Adam Byrne in the same working environment makes it easier for Dardis to adapt.
“Jamie [Heaslip] is obviously one of the best players in the world, and Adam [Byrne] is one of the upcoming stars. It’s really good for the club. They’re two players, and then you have Phil Lawlor, who is one the development officers in Leinster. There’s a few faces around Leinster from Naas, which is always nice. To be able to relate to them, and every so often chat to them.”
The second game of the upcoming tournament in Parma, Italy, presents Ireland with an opportunity to gain revenge for their U20 Six Nations defeat to Scotland. Dardis is pleased that they have a chance to correct a disappointing end to the Six Nations, but also highlighted the importance of games against Argentina and New Zealand.
“Yeah, a bit of revenge of sorts. It’s a good way to right some of the wrongs, and correct what we did wrong in the Scotland game. The Six Nations, the end of it was very disappointing. If you look at it, we played pretty well for two-and-a-half games, and then a few moments didn’t go the way we wanted them. It was fairly tight, the games we lost. I think we lost them by seven points or less.”
“It is good that we have Scotland in the second game. We know what they’re about. It’ll be a task coming up against the Argentinians. We haven’t really seen a huge amount of them, and then the Baby Blacks played in the Oceania Tournament there this month and won it.”
“The Argentinians and the Baby Blacks are going to be the two big challenges, but I’m looking forward to all the games,” Dardis added.