Remarkable attitude and commitment.
The last time we spoke with Garry Ringrose, he was recovering from a shoulder injury, targeting a comeback within the next month and consoling himself with plotting a day of watching Champions Cup rugby.
A little under four months later and he's right back there.
Ringrose returned for Leinster and was getting back to his best when, in early January, he injured his ankle in a home win over Ulster. So, when we talk to him at the PwC offices on North Wall Quay, he is recovering from injury, targeting a comeback within the next month and consoling himself with plotting a day of watching Six Nations rugby.
"It's not ideal and re-injuring," he tells
The Hard Yards, "but that's how it goes, I suppose, in rugby. The injury is not as severe as the shoulder injury was so it was only a couple of weeks out and the procedure that they do up at Santry [Sport Surgery Clinic] is pretty efficient. Things are going well and I'm looking forward to being back in a couple of weeks."
Ringrose may be out of the opening rounds of the Six Nations but he is not looking for sympathy. In fact, he is happily distracted in putting in the hours of re-hab and strengthening work while getting his conditioning ramped up. He tells us [from 31:00 below] about his plans to watch Ireland versus France and the work he wants to put in beforehand.
"We were discussing the Ireland match, between me and my mates, and wondering if we'd watch it together in one of our houses," says Ringrose. "I might go watch it with my family, though."
In injured Leinster and Ireland teammate Jamie Heaslip, Ringrose has found a source of inspiration when it comes to positivity and graft on that comeback trail. He could certainly do with some. Ringrose has gone from locking down the Ireland No.13 jersey and
just missing out on Lions selection and showing his worth on the summer tour to now finding himself looking on as Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are reunited as a midfield duo. Munster's Chris Farrell has also had two Test auditions and did well in both outings.
"We're incredibly lucky to have Jamie and Leinster," says Ringrose, "and he sets the example for the rest of us.
"Even with that long-term injury he has, he still sets the example. He still brings an incredible amount of positivity and energy to the group, in the changing room and out at training. With me dealing with these injuries, I'm pretty lucky to have Jamie around and to follow the example he sets."
Talk of home dates against Wales and Scotland, and a potential championship decider against England on March 17 may cause Ringrose's eyebrows to involuntarily raise. When he talks, though, he has his immediate goals set on helping Leinster in the Guinness PRO14. "What I'm worrying about most is getting back and playing for Leinster," he says.
As for Saturday, Ringrose and Heaslip will log in some hours at Leinster's UCD headquarters.
"It's an evening kick-off," notes Ringrose, "so I'll be able to get a bit of training in beforehand and I won't feel guilty watching the Ireland match. I'm sure Jamie will be out there training so I'll just copy him!"
Leinster and Ireland star Garry Ringrose will join forces with PwC to further enhance its support and commitment to young Irish talent. PwC is proud sponsor of the Ireland U20 rugby team. It also sponsors the U19 and U18 teams and the IRFU’s Elite Player Pathway Programme.
