RUGBY
Desire for first team rugby at number 10 the reason behind Carbery’s Munster switch
By Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING several weeks of intense speculation, Athy’s Joey Carbery announced last Thursday that he would be joining Munster on a deal that will keep him down south until 2020 at the very least.
After initial suggestions that either Carbery or Leinster rival Ross Byrne were being touted for a potential move to Ulster, the 22-year-old has ultimately decided to link up with Johann van Graan’s charges in Thomond Park.
It is a move the Auckland-born Carbery will make with a heavy heart, having come up through the youth ranks at Leinster to become an established first-team squad member. Despite making his debut as a late replacement against Glasgow Warriors back in March 2016, Carbery truly announced his arrival on the professional stage with a stunning two-try performance in a home victory over Benetton Rugby six months later.
He would go on to pick up 22 Leinster caps in the 2016/17 season (16 of them as a starter), as well as making his senior international debut in Ireland’s groundbreaking win over the All Blacks at Soldier’s Field, Chicago.
Carbery was presented with ample opportunities to test his out-half credentials in this period, but his undoubted versatility ensured he also made a name for himself as an explosive attacking full-back.
Indeed, since stepping into the 15 shirt against Newport Gwent Dragons in February of last year, he has been restricted to three provincial starts at half-back. While this wasn’t necessarily a hindrance for a player that has always been adept in both positions, it is clear that Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt views him as the best alternative to Jonathan Sexton in the Irish set-up.
With Sexton playing a pivotal role for Leinster in their recent Champions Cup and PRO14 successes, he faced the prospect of limited game-time for the big challenges that lie ahead for Leo Cullen’s outfit.
Rob Kearney’s return to fitness and form means the full-back mantle will also be tied down in the near future. Although Leinster were eager to retain his services after recently saying goodbye to Jordi Murphy and the retiring Isa Nacewa, Carbery has insisted that the primary motivation for this transfer is to gain more exposure as an out-half.
Yet, he will find himself moving into a province that is already loaded with options in this area of the field. Alongside the injury-prone Tyler Bleyendaal, Ian Keatley and JJ Hanrahan have been battling for out-half supremacy in Munster – so Carbery will need to hit the ground running on his arrival.
Aside from a host of his international compatriots, Carbery will have some familiar faces alongside him for the next two seasons. Having played on opposite sides in his final Leinster appearance – against the Scarlets in the Guinness PRO14 decider – Carbery will join forces with Eadestown’s Tadhg Beirne at Munster.
It was just over two years ago that Carbery and the towering lock featured for Leinster ‘A’ in the British & Irish Cup – along with another Lilywhite who currently lists Limerick as his place of residence.
After they formed a unique bond during their school days at Ardscoil na Trionoide and Blackrock College, Carbery and fellow Athy man Jeremy Loughman were later playing colleagues for UCD, the Ireland U20s and finally Leinster.
With his first-team opportunities limited in Dublin, the loosehead prop signed a development contract with Munster last December. He has done enough to convince the Red Army to keep him on board for the 2018/19 campaign, meaning Loughman and Carbery will continue their remarkable journey together through the landscape of Irish rugby.