Leinster Rugby flanker, Will Connors, was in high spirits as he took part in an open training session at Dundalk Rugby Club on Tuesday afternoon.
The visit was part of Leinster’s ongoing efforts to connect with grassroots rugby and inspire the next generation of players.
Connors told the Dundalk Democrat: “It’s great to get up here, it is obviously spreading the game more. Dundalk is a proud club; it has been here for years. The Kearneys and Tadhg McElroy come from here.
“Seeing so many numbers here today that have a real love of Leinster, we kind of just keep wanting to spread the game as much as we can.”
(9 May 2023; Tadhg McElroy during Leinster rugby squad training at UCD. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)
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Leinster has long been committed to strengthening its presence throughout the province, and Connors talked about the importance of days like this in building connections between the club and local communities.
“Well, that is the thing. The clubs have been providing a huge amount of players over the last number of years,” he noted.
“I remember Tadhg Furlong saying that he remembers when Leinster came down to New Ross years and years ago – and there could be those kinds of players here today.”
(Tadhg Furlong of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 match between Stade Rochelais and Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile)
The impact of these visits goes beyond the pitch, inspiring young players to aim high and chase their dreams.
He said: “With them seeing Leinster coming down is a big lift for the club and it really excites young players coming through.
“So hopefully we see more and more players coming from Dundalk over the next few years.”
(RG Snyman with members of Dundalk RFC during a Leinster Rugby open training session at Dundalk RFC. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)
When asked if he had played alongside any players from Dundalk RFC, Connors admitted he hadn’t but was hopeful for the future.
He said: “No, I don’t think I have actually played with anyone from Dundalk. I played with Neil Reilly who is from Ardee, so he was a bit closer up this way.
“But I haven’t played with anybody from Dundalk so as I said hopefully more players over the next couple of years start coming through and change that.”
(4 September 2015; Neil Reilly, Leinster. U20 Interprovincial Rugby Championship, Round 1, Leinster v Connacht. Picture credit: Matt Browne/Sportsfile)
For the young players in attendance, Connors had some valuable advice about making it to the professional level.
“I think it is to just keep tipping away at it. That is the thing, rugby is a fickle game, and it is a slow process to get up to it, there is no one big thing that sets it out,” he said.
“If you stick to your process and have good coaches because a lot of great coaches go around to the clubs these days.
“I think if you really stick to the process and stick to what you are good at over the years then it’ll all come through for you.”
(Will Connors during a Leinster Rugby open training session at Dundalk RFC. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)
Connors also spoke about how crucial grassroots events like this are for Leinster’s future. “It is massive. Spreading the game and getting more players through the system,” he explained.
“We hope here today that there is a Ciarán Frawley or a Tadhg Furlong or someone out there that we will be seeing in a Lions jersey in ten or 15 years—you never know.
“That is the exciting thing, the potential in the club system is huge and as a resource I think Leinster have done really well in the last five or ten years tapping into more. Hopefully we will see the fruits of it in the next couple of years.”
(Will Connors during a Leinster Rugby open training session at Dundalk RFC. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)
Reflecting on his own career, Connors shared one of the biggest lessons he has learned. “The biggest lesson I could pass on I think is to not only focus on the destination, not focusing on wanting to play for Ireland, or wanting to play for Leinster,” he said.
“It is about enjoying the journey to get there. I am getting into my older years at rugby now that I am 28 and I think back on all the great memories I had.”
(Will Connors during a Leinster Rugby open training session at Dundalk RFC. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)
He admitted that in hindsight, he wished he had embraced the journey more. “Probably not really embracing the journey as much and every day I am out here. Like today I just enjoyed every single minute of it.
“It is a privilege to be representing Leinster, to be here with players you grew up playing with your whole life, so I think enjoying the journey is my biggest piece of advice.”
(RG Snyman, right, and Will Connors during a Leinster Rugby gym session DKIT Sport. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)
To conclude, Connors had a clear message for the young rugby fans in Dundalk. “My message is to just stick to your dream and keep tipping away in the process.
“Leinster and Ireland are making the opportunity to get in through the door a lot more available to a lot more players.”
“There are a lot more eyes on these club games than before. There are opportunities just around the corner—they could be playing or out here doing an open session soon.
“Or we could see them out in the green shirt out in the Aviva and that is the exciting thing about it. So, stick to the dream.”
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