THE EASY OPTION would be to look for a move to one of the other provinces where first-team opportunities would be more forthcoming, but Jack Conan insists the competition at Leinster drives him on to be a better player.
The 24-year-old is one of eight international back row forwards currently on the books at the eastern province with the competition for places as high as ever at the RDS.
Since returning from a long-term injury layoff last November, Conan has worked his way back into the reckoning under Leo Cullen and his performances have been such that he was included in Joe Schmidt’s initial 40-man squad for the Six Nations.
Conan spent two weeks in camp at Carton House before being released back to Leinster last week for Sunday’s Pro12 victory over Treviso and he’ll line out in blue again this Friday when Edinburgh visit Dublin.
While delighted to receive the call-up, Conan is the type of player that always wants to push himself and he admits not taking that extra step is disappointing.
“If I was told back in November that I’d make the Ireland squad at all with the competition we have with the back rowers in the country I would have been delighted,” he says.
Conan won his only Irish cap back in August 2015. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“But in saying that when I got there you realise that what you want is never enough. Obviously I got there and I was like it’s good to be here but I wanted to play and have a part in it. I want to get more caps.
After making his Ireland debut against Scotland in August 2015, Conan’s career was on the cusp of taking off. He had announced himself two years previous, scoring a try just minutes into his first appearance for Leinster. Everything was heading on an upward trajectory.
And then injury struck. He completed 80 minutes just four times for the province last season after 10 weeks on the sideline with a broken foot and then a further three months out with an ankle complaint. In-between, he played once.
During the hours, weeks and months of monotonous rehab and marginal progress, Conan has watched his peers, the likes of Josh van der Flier and Dan Leavy, establish themselves and earn international honours.
“Yes there’s more pressure on me but you want the pressure, you need that to be a better player and push you on,” he continues.