LEINSTER CENTRE IAN Madigan says that Isa Nacewa would be ‘a fantastic signing’ for the province if the New Zealander were to reverse his retirement decision this year.
The mooted return of the one-cap Fiji international has gained traction again this week amid reports from The Independent’s Ruaidhri O’Connor that the versatile back will be unveiled at Clonskeagh within the coming weeks.
Source: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE
After a flawless goal-kicking display in the win over Bath, Madigan brought up the subject of Nacewa before the assembled reporters managed broach it.
This being the launch of Bank of Ireland’s Leinster Rugby summer camps, Madigan was first asked about how star power had influenced the dawn of his own career before he would be tasked with passing on the knowledge.
Fergus McFadden had been asked the same thing and revealed that he met Springbok legend Chester Williams when the McFadden family was stationed in Tanzania. Madigan though, didn’t have to travel far to come face to face with a special southern hemisphere talent.
Chester Williams tracks down Tyrone Howe in 2000. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
“The person who had the biggest influence on me when I was younger was probably Isa Nacewa,” said the 26-year-old utility back.
“I was lucky enough to watch him as a supporter, then he got his hands on me when I was in the academy and I was lucky enough to play with him for three season in Leinster. He is, without doubt, the person who has had the biggest impact on me.”
Asked how exactly the Kiwi influenced the Blackrock schoolboy, Madigan’s memories provided a positive outlook for the impact Nacewa could have on his second stint at Leinster, particularly if that should include a place on the coaching ticket.