RUGBY
Carry clinches senior deal with Leinster
JOEY Carbery took another big step in his already blossoming professional career yesterday, as it was revealed that the Athy man had put pen to paper on a senior contract with Leinster Rugby.
Carbery had been on Academy terms with the province, but following a whirlwind 12 months at club, provincial and international level – which has included a triumphant Ulster Bank League campaign with Clontarf, and a senior Ireland debut against the All Blacks during their historic win at Soldier’s Field, Chicago – he has now made a permanent move to Leo Cullen’s first-team squad.
Carbery was one of seven players to agree senior terms with the Blues – Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy, Rory O’Loughlin, James Ryan and ex-Clongowes Wood College student Peadar Timmins are the others – and Leinster backs coach Girvan Dempsey praised them for the manner in which they seized the opportunities they have received in recent months.
“It’s a great place to be. It’s exciting to have seven new guys brought into the senior squad. They’ve gone so well. They’ve trained really hard throughout the pre-season in through that early part of the season,” Dempsey remarked at UCD yesterday.
“When opportunities were afforded to them, they all grabbed them and added to the squad. I think it’s a testament to the work that they’ve put in, but also the programme around the province.”
“They’ve all come through different routes from the youths and the clubs to the schools. There’s been huge work involved in progressing them through to the Academy and then onto the senior squad.”
Carbery is providing healthy competition on two fronts for talismanic Ireland out-half Jonathan Sexton, and despite being sidelined with injury in recent times, the 21-year-old has made 14 appearances during the ongoing 2016/17 season.
His former Ireland U20s team-mate, Ross Byrne, has also played a significant role during the enforced absences of Carbery and Sexton, and Dempsey is delighted with the progress that both players have made.
“Ross has been excellent. He’s slotted in seamlessly and dealt with the pressure in his stride. He’s had no issues. Big occasions, no matter what the game, he’s handled it really, really well. It’s great to have a player of his quality.
“He obviously had a bit of frustration with injury last season and earlier this season. I think he’s come back stronger. He works so hard on all aspects of his game. From his contact to his kicking to his game management to everything. He’s done really well for us.
“Joey is obviously another quality player and has done really well. It’s great to have him back as well.”
Indeed, for Friday evening’s away clash with Newport Gwent Dragons in the Guinness PRO12, both players were accommodated in the same starting line-up by Cullen.
Carbery lined out at full-back (with Byrne on kicking duties at half-back) in a facile victory for the Championship’s pace-setters, and although Dempsey views him as an out-half in the long-run, he is pleased that he is able to offer flexibility when required.
“I thought he did really well, because he hasn’t got a huge amount of experience at full-back. I think everyone forgets how young he is, because he’s had international exposure.”
“I think Joey is an out-half, but is flexible. Natural footballer. Started his career at scrum-half. You just want him in the team. He’s so grounded, but he’s worked so hard for it. He just loves the game,” Dempsey added.