Smyth thrilled with Leinster debut

Former Carlow rugby player, Stephen Smyth, won his first Leinster cap when he came into the action against Connacht in the BKT United Championship at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday. With six minutes to go he got the nod and replaced Gus McCarthy as Leinster maintained their 100% record in the league with five bonus point victories on the trot.

Since featuring with the Irish Development Squad, it was something which Smyth hoped would eventually come. Then came the good news. Five days earlier on the Monday morning, he was told he would be travelling to Galway with the Leinster team.

“7-7.30 in the morning Leo (Cullen) comes in and talks to everyone individually about their status for the week whether they are involved with the match squad, a travelling reserve or involved with the AIL,” explained Stephen.

The former Askea GAA player plies his rugby club trade in the All-Ireland League with Old Wesley. He is also a member of the Leinster Academy squad. Smyth says players are constantly moving between club, provincial and international squads.

“Generally when you are in the Academy you play in the AIL. If you are needed for the first team or with the Development squad you get pulled from there.

I would have played Leinster 18s, 19s, Academy and then this year I was brought into the Academy Programme. That is a full time programme where you are training with the seniors,” he says.

“You are training with them every day. You are following their schedule and training with them the whole time. If you are going well with your club there is an opportunity that you will get your shot.” So when Leinster coach, Leo Cullen, called Smyth to one side on Monday morning before the game, he was given the good news. Competition for places is huge so the new cap in waiting kept a lid on his hopes. The six minutes he got on the field was huge for the Carlow man.

“I suppose I was probably somewhat expecting not to get massive minutes considering the position I was in. It would be very seldom a front-rower in the Academy to get match minutes. It was just massive for me to get that exposure.” Even though he kept his expectations low, he still dared to dream.

“Being treated as a member of the match day 23 for the week, you want to come on. No-one wants to go and sit on the bench for 80 minutes. You prepare for every game as if you are starting in case you are called on to come on after a few minutes.” Then came the call. Even three days later, he was not running away with the thoughts of what his future might hold.

“I was delighted to get on the pitch, writing my own little bit of history. You never know with injury, it could all end so I was delighted to get my cap which was the big thing.” The new Leinster hooker found that the training prepared him for the pace of the game.

“It is as fast as it comes. I have been involved with the seniors this year now. I was on the emerging Irish tour a few weeks ago so it was my first exposure to that kind of standard,” he said.

“It gave me a feeling for the standard and had me prepared for what was to come last week. Even though I didn’t get too much time on the pitch. It was fine. It was a good set-up.” And is he likely to get a regular call-up?

“Hard to know,” he reasoned.

“You don’t know until medicals are completed and what the availability of players is. Some players are returning. Especially when you are in Leinster and the Academy when you get five minutes like I did or fortunate enough to get longer you just have to take that opportunity when it comes.” Tradition has it in the Leinster camp that the new cap is obliged to sing a song. In keeping with the Carlow and Old Wesley rugby tradition, Andrew Porter, whose father won a Provincial Towns Cup medal with Carlow in 1977, presented the new man with his first cap.

The moment was captured on social media. His new Leinster team-mates helped him out with his musical offering.

“I sang Galway Girl because of the night that was in it playing against Connacht away. It was grand. They were all hollering. It was great craic,” said Smyth.