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The tale of two Irish hookers... one in contractual limbo and a rival ready to make his Test debut

(Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Crazy how it all works out. Thirty-three months ago, Tadgh McElroy declared he was off, turning his back on a Connacht academy contract in favour of trying his luck in London at Saracens. 

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The wrath of the IRFU was instant, the youngster being immediately dropped for the under-20s World Cup in Georgia where he would have been Ireland’s first-choice hooker. Up stepped Ronan Kelleher to start a number of those games and the rest, as they always say, is history. 

Nearly three years later, Kelleher is primed to make his Test debut off the bench at the age of just 22 in the Six Nations. McElroy, meanwhile, is back at home in Dundalk, without a contract and trying to pick up the pieces after two years in England didn’t produce the satisfactory outcome he would have hoped for. 

There are no grudges regarding the very different way it has panned out, that an old pal he was ahead of in the underage queue has now broken through where it really matters. “I’m happy for him,” enthused McElroy to RugbyPass. “He’s a great guy, a good player who has worked hard for it. I hope he goes well this weekend.”

While Kelleher is living the dream as part of Andy Farrell’s new broom after stylishly accelerating through the ranks this season at Leinster, McElroy is busy trying to put himself back in the shop window. 

(Continue reading below…)

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The perception at large is he must be trouble given the abrupt manner he upped sticks, turning his back on an age-grade World Cup with his country in preference of seeing if the rugby streets of London were really paved with gold. 

Chat to him, though, and the opposite is very much the case. “Anyone who knows me, I’m pretty soft off the field but when I’m on it I’m different. It’s just the thing with the 20s, I feel like it’s hanging over me. Everyone knew me from that and they were like, ‘there is Tadgh, blah, blah, blah, he’s a bit of mad man, a bit of a header’. But I’m not that. I’m a nice lad if you get to know me.

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“I just want to get that hangover over. I have spoken to people in the IRFU and it was like ‘that was forgotten about as soon as you landed over in England’. That was all forgotten about and I was like of course, but obviously there is social media. You do notice it and you do rate the online comments.”

Getting stuck in contractual limbo was rotten luck more than anything machiavellian. McElroy and Saracens had amicably agreed to go their separate ways in 2019 – he’d grown tired of the A-League circuit and being loaned out – and talks were still ongoing regarding his next step when his hamstring gave way at completely the wrong time. 

“I was doing a fitness run on my own and whatever way I fell awkwardly, it just went. It was a bit of a shock. At the time I was in talks with the likes of Northampton, Jersey, Bedford, talks with a few teams like that. Then whenever this happened, it was off the table.”

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What followed was hellish. “At one stage I felt like I could never come back from it. I felt like I would never be able to play the way I used to be able to play and I was just overthinking everything. I was letting the overthinking get the better of me.

Doris and Kelleher combine
Ronan Kelleher takes a pass in Georgia from Caelan Doris at the under-20s World Cup Tadgh McElroy was dropped for (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

“That was the hard part, thinking the worst. I let the demons get in too easy. It was my own fault. I went through a few personal problems and it was more about getting the head right, fighting the demons and getting the love back for rugby again.

“My dad helped. He always just kept asking me, ‘Are you happy?’ It was never about getting back playing rugby, it was like once you’re happy that is the main thing. It was just confidence. He was always telling me, ‘Look, it is going to get better, this is your first injury. Just think about it, there is a lot worse out there. This is just your first injury, don’t look at it bad’.

“He said when you get over it in a few weeks and months time you will be laughing about this. I look back at it now and it has only been a few months and he was right.”

https://twitter.com/tadghmcelroy/status/1222923779287986182

The mood is sweetness and light despite yet another setback a few weeks ago. Dividing his time between playing for Clontarf in the All-Ireland club league and working part-time in personal gym training, McElroy’s rejuvenation led to a call-up to the Ireland amateur clubs squad for their annual two-match series versus Scotland.

However, a concussion in training ruled him out of selection for last Friday night’s opener and the second meeting on February 7. Given what he has been through, though, it’s a mere bump on the road towards his ultimate goal – securing a full-time rugby contract for next season. 

“It’s not ideal but that is the way it is,” he said reflecting on the ill-timed concussion. “It was actually great going back into camp. It was like I was rebooted, seeing all the old faces. It was very, very welcoming. Everybody came up and shook my hand, said it’s great to see you back. It gave me mountains of confidence. I couldn’t doubt the welcome I was given. I’m very grateful for that.

https://twitter.com/tadghmcelroy/status/1181274730126544907

“When I had the injury and went through a bad time in the off-season, I matured in a way and learned this [injury] is all part of the game so you have to deal with it in a positive way and not leave yourself get down. 

“It’s about sticking to the gym and keeping little goals. Every few weeks you have a goal to try and hit and you hit it. That keeps your focus on yourself, on the actual situation you’re in. I have my mind set on rugby and the main goal is to get a pro deal. My agent is working hard and I feel great, feel like my old self. I’m itching to get back. My first choice is a province and if not I’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m willing to go with any province if given the opportunity.

“It would be fantastic because at one stage I thought I can’t come back from this. Nobody wants me, nobody needs me to play for them. I had my time, it’s finished. I will never be the player I was. I said I’m not playing. But if I do come back and get a pro deal it’s going to be all those times when I thought to myself there is no point doing this, it’s not going to work, it’s going to make it all worth it.”

Looking back at the whole journey from there to here, all the way back to his 2017 decision to flee the Irish nest and hook up with Saracens, he has no regrets. “I wouldn’t change it because at the time for me it was the best decision for Tadgh McElroy to grow up, mature and become a better player,” he reckoned.

“I matured as a player and as a person on and off the field and the best thing about it was I met some amazing people, met some boys I will be friends for life with. I lived with Joel Kpoku for two years, great guy. They all were. Saracens are known for everyone being close together and it’s just a group of good people. There were no individuals I’d bad vibes with.

“It was different. I had to live away from home, cook for myself, but you adapt quickly. I liked it because it was a different challenge outside the field and I knew I’d to mature quick. I’d be cooking, cleaning for myself, doing my bills, little things like that.”

Good habits have rubbed off. “My first year I was always asking questions. I was never nervous asking questions. The great thing about the club was regardless of how big a profile player you are, they always had time for you. Regardless of whether it was your first week in the club or your tenth year, everyone had time for everyone.

“What I would have seen is patience, working hard so when your time comes be ready. It was a massive belief that a club like that was interested in me, a massive confidence builder. When I was throwing I would always speak to likes of Jamie George, Christopher Tolofua or Schalk Brits at the time, they were always supportive and more than happy to help me out, give tips.

“It wasn’t that they thought they were better than anyone, they would come over and ask do you think your right hand is coming in a bit too much when you throw or whatever. I was just overwhelmed by how nice they were. Like these were Lions and international players coming over to help the young lads. I was blown away by how nice and humble the whole club was.

“I have seen what it takes now. I have seen what it takes in the mornings, getting up early, getting your gym and getting everything done. I have seen what the likes of the Lions and the England players do. I know the hard work it takes, I have seen it done and at the minute I’m going to have to do it all over again.

“Those two years of experience, watching those guys how they approach training, how they approach the game, every meeting, it was always with 100 per cent focus. I don’t think I could have learned at any other club. 

“It’s a great club with good people involved. It’s hard to see such a good club go down (to the Championship) but from being there and knowing the kind of people that are involved, it is a very tough time but the club will bounce back.”

Just like McElroy.

WATCH: In the latest episode of Don’t Mess With Jim, ex-Scotland player Jim Hamilton chooses his all-time Six Nations XV that he played against

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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