Munster would like the young Ireland international but Henshaw is bound for Leinster.
Back in April 2014, I caught up with Robbie Henshaw at the IRUPA awards.
Amid the hustle and bustle of the pre-awards drinks, we spoke about the possibility of a move to Leinster. Then aged 20, Henshaw was hoping to tour with Ireland to Argentina. He was already a permanent dot on Leinster’s radar.
Stating his immediate commitment to Connacht, the Athlone native used the phrase ‘at the moment’ a lot. He revealed that conversations had already taken place with Joe Schmidt – eight months into his job as Ireland coach – about needing to play elite level rugby to aid his international prospects.
Henshaw commented, “[Joe said] that, just because we’re not playing in the top European games, I would still be considered. That was great advice and I think he’s happy with me playing in Connacht for the moment.”
For the moment.
19 months on and the moment has arrived for Henshaw to choose where his next contract is going to be. He will certainly not be at Connacht next season. He will not be in France and, path-pave as they might, he will not be at Munster.
Henshaw is keen on linking up with Leinster and he will find little argument from Schmidt or anyone playing out of the RDS.
There is a sense that Connacht know this is coming.
Pat Lam has spoken in the past about the need for player movement to increase, when needs suit, between the provinces. To an extent, he has gotten his wish.
Quinn Roux and John Cooney have both gone west while Mick Kearney returned to Leinster in the summer.
Funding has increased to Connacht in recent years too. At the IRFU’s recent AGM, it was revealed that the western province had received an extra €1m from the union – that is for infrastructure, additional coaches and, if Lam had his way, players.
Bundee Aki was a player that could have done at job at Munster. Similar with Tom McCartney. And yet, the Kiwi centre and hooker ended up at The Sportsground.
It is rare to sight the 22-year-old in the fullback position. That responsibility now falls to Darragh Leader and Tiernan O’Halloran. Aki is Connacht’s go-to No.13 and Lam has been trialling options at inside centre for the past 12 months.
Softening the blow for Henshaw’s inevitable departure.
There is a frame of thought – and one that was expressed by The Irish Times’ Liam Toland and Off The Ball’s Ger Gilroy – that Connacht fans should suck it up and accept Henshaw’s move as pure rugby evolution. The big club getting the big player.
It is trite to suggest such a concept, especially when Connacht are improving year-on-year under Lam and Leinster seem to be regressing.
Why should Connacht wilfully hand over their star player without the merest grumble?
The fight, one suspects, was fought before that April 2014 conversation. At that moment, Henshaw was committed to Leinster.
In June 2016, he will be committed to Leinster.
It is the move he, Leinster and Schmidt want.
Connacht fans will hope Lam has a few more useful Kiwi phone numbers.
