CLUB SCENE RISING STAR
A flying start for young Bucc Jordan
Buccaneers winger Conroy has hit the ground running in Division 1B since his summer switch, writes Daire Walsh
WITH five tries from his opening four appearances this season, Buccaneers’ flying winger Jordan Conroy has taken Ulster Bank League Division 1B by storm since his summer arrival from Tullamore.
It was expected that the step-up from Division 2C with the Co Offaly club would be daunting for the Athlone IT student, but he believes being involved with the extended reland Sevens squad has helped him to make the adjustment quickly.
“With the Irish Sevens, that was kind of a big step up for me, and I think that kind of helped me ease into 1B because I was playing with very high quality players in the Sevens who taught me a lot. It was a very fast game I had to learn, so I kind of brought it into Buccaneers, and it eased me into the game,” he said.
“I guess it was the first three games of the pre-season that I kind of knew that I’d be able for that type of game. I was a bit nervy at first, but after those three games, and the first Ulster Bank League game, I felt really comfortable and I guess that why I’ve been playing so well.”
It has proven to be an exciting 2016 for Conroy, as he has also appeared for Connacht Eagles in their opening two British & Irish Cup fixtures. He scored on his Eagles debut in their recent Pool 3 defeat to Cornish Pirates, and explains that being surrounded by his Buccaneers club-mates has made it a smooth transition.
“That was another big, massive step-up, and kind of a surprise. I played against Cornish Pirates. I tried to stay calm, because I was a bit nervous because it was Connacht. Of course I’ve had some of my team-mates in Buccaneers in Connacht.
“I had Luke Carty, Conor McKeon, Danny Qualter, Saba [Meunargia], and I have Danie Poolman as well. They all kind of just eased me into the whole Connacht set-up. The first game was really good. I got to make a few breaks and scored a try.”
Indeed, the Connacht influence at Buccaneers is not just restricted to the playing squad, as former Connacht prop Brett Wilkinson is the club’s current head coach. The South African earned 183 caps in an eight-year spell with the province, and Conroy feels his coaching style is proving beneficial to the development of his game.
“He [Wilkinson] told me that they [Connacht] were looking at me, and he just said ‘go, it’s a great opportunity’. He was one of the main driving forces for me to kind of go with Buccs, and he said ‘take the opportunity’.
“Because you only get really one, so he was kind of guiding me in what to do in those situations. I’m still getting to know him, and he’s really good. A really positive guy, and he lets me play. He knows of my capabilities, and he really wants me to use them, and be really positive,” added the 22-year-old speedster.