Ireland hooker relishing ‘leadership role’ after Rugby World Cup disappointment

Simon Thomas

Dan Sheehan in action for Ireland - PA

One month on from Ireland’s gut-wrenching loss to New Zealand in the World Cup, Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan is over the disappointment and feeling as fresh as ever.

Having captained the Leinstermen for the first time in a routine 33-10 win over the Dragons last week, Sheehan is focussing on helping Leinster go one – or even two – better than last season, while at 25 years young, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be instrumental in Ireland’s next World Cup tilt.

Sheehan crossed for a try within minutes of his first game as captain, a dream start for what, as he says himself, is a dream opportunity.

Skipper Sheehan

“My confidence has grown over the last few years and it’s about time I step up and take more of a leadership role within the squad, so I’m delighted,” he said.

“It’s probably something as a kid – or even a few years – I never thought I would be capable of doing.

“You have different sorts of things going through your head. You spend the week making sure everyone else is ready rather than just yourself, but I really enjoyed the challenge of it and it’s something I’m glad I have done now.

“We have a lot of experience in the camp, so whatever team we put out there’s people with massive number of caps. We talk about everyone having a role in the leadership, so it’s easy for me to be able to come in and lead these lads.”

Sheehan had a fortnight off to recover from his World Cup travails with Ireland, but was already getting itchy feet by then and was banging at Leinster coach Leo Cullen’s door to get back into training and get on with rugby life.

“I enjoyed the few weeks we had off. I tried to do very little with rugby, but then by the third week I was ready to come back in. I was texting Leo (Cullen) and I was just sitting at home waiting to come back in,” he said.

“It’s good to be back with the lads you haven’t seen in a long time.

“(The defeat to New Zealand) was difficult, a massive disappointment and especially with the lads leaving, that was their last game.

“That’s hard to deal with and then all of a sudden you are broken up. You’ve spent the last five months with these lads and then you are leaving camp and you are on to the next thing.

Back on the bike

“That was difficult, but the best thing for me was getting back into the Leinster squad and just focusing on that. It was a case of getting back on the bike, as they say.”

He added: “I was nervous coming in, to make sure I showed my ability in the Leinster team because the lads have been doing a good job without me. I needed to make sure I showed up for them.

“It was good to get back out there and I am excited to kick on for the rest of the season.”

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International Dan Sheehan

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