“Ronan O’Gara sent me a really nice message. That really stood out for me.”
Devin Toner and Ronan O’Gara only played together for Ireland on three occasions but they were in the same national squad training camps for three seasons.
O’Gara, coaching since his 2013 playing retirement, has often spoke highly of the Leinster lock and what he brings to the mix. Still, of all the messages of support and consolation he received after missing out on the 2019 World Cup, the one Toner received from O’Gara was a surprise. A welcome one, but a surprise nonetheless.
Back in early September, Joe Schmidt shocked many rugby supporters here by omitting Toner from his 31-man World Cup squad. In opting for the Munster duo of Tadhg Beirne and Jean Kleyn, Toner was the odd lock out.
Speaking to us at the launch event for NOW TV’s Sports Extra Pass, Toner said “I didn’t know [I was going to miss out] at all. It was a complete and utter shock when I saw Joe’s name come up on the phone. Complete and utter shock. I didn’t see it coming.”
The 33-year-old spoke of how he has found focus within a young Leinster squad and how, with the senior stars returning from World Cup duty, the league and European Cup double is a driving force. He also harbours Ireland ambitions and spoke about some of the uplifting messages he received after missing out on Schmidt’s squad, including a stand-out from O’Gara.
“I got a lot of texts and calls from the lads in the squad, obviously,” he says, “from the lads that I’m friends with and who are around my age.
“I did chat to them a bit but then, after a couple of days, it was back to the grindstone for them. They had a World Cup to prepare for. It’s not about me. It’s not about one player or who is selected, or not. The squad was selected and they had to go and do a job. You can’t dwell on that stuff either.
“I got a really, really nice and thoughtful message off ROG. Ronan O’Gara sent me a really nice message. That really stood out for me.
“He just basically said – You’ve achieved a lot in your career and you still will achieve a lot in your career. Stick with it and don’t let it define you. So, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
The old Munster and Leinster rivalries put aside as O’Gara reached out to send his support to Toner.
The Meath native, who has started five of Leinster six Guinness PRO14 wins this season, says he owes a lot to Schmidt as he was the coach that gave him the push to be a starting lock for Leinster first and then, from 2013 on, with Ireland.
Devin Toner with former Republic of Ireland International football player Stephen Hunt and LPGA tour golfer Stephanie Meadow at the launch of the Sports Extra Pass on NOW TV in Dundrum Town Centre. (Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile)“He gave me my start in the team and started to play me in all the big games and then, when he got the Ireland job, I started playing a lot more for them too. I’ve a lot of history with Joe and I owe a lot to him but how it ended with him was obviously disappointing.”
Taking a positive out of missing out on the World Cup, Toner says he was happy to get more time with his wife, Mary and their two-year-old son Max.
Asked when was safe to needle his returning Leinster teammates about falling short at the quarter final stages again, Toner remarks, “You can slag anyone about anything. Everything and anything has been said to them.
“It’s great to have them back. They’ve brought a great energy to the changing room… they’re raring to go, to try and get over [the World Cup]. It’s all about getting the next game. For me, after I didn’t get selected, it was all about the next game.”
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