AFTER AN INJURY-interrupted start to his professional rugby career, back row Conor Gilsenan had a decision to make. As a member of the Leinster academy, he was part of Leinster A’s British and Irish Cup-winning team but a combination of injuries and strength in depth in the back row limited his opportunities with the senior side.
He spent part of last season on loan with Connacht but after speaking to Bob Casey, who is now the director of operations at London Irish, he felt that a move to the Premiership would be good for him.
Gilsenan initially signed a one-year deal, which he likened to a ‘trial season’, but has impressed people at the club enough to warrant a new two-year contract.
The former Clongowes pupil circled the Six Nations period on his calendar as when he would hopefully get a run of games and it has been a very strong couple of weeks for the Mullingar native, with him starting at openside in three consecutive matches against Leicester, Northampton and London Welsh.
“I targeted the block of games in November and the last few weeks to get good game time,” Gilsenan said.
“I played some LV Cup but the standard wouldn’t be as high as the Premiership. November didn’t go to plan and I got a concussion but the last three games I played 80 in all of them. I don’t think I’ve been out of my depth at all.”
Bob Casey pitched London Irish as a place where Gilsenan could develop as a back row on the field as opposed to the training ground. The prospect of more playing time and less competition for places swung it for him.
“There was a bit of a backlog in my position [at Leinster] and I had a very miserable time with injuries,” Gilsenan said.
“I spoke to the guys there and we just felt that it was time to move on. There are only six back rows at London Irish compared to Leinster. It was tough because even when Jamie and Seanie were away the next guys in were Jordi Murphy and Rhys Ruddock. I was never in a position to challenge them because I spent so much time in the physio room.”
While Gilsenan is happy with his contributions when in the team so far, he concedes that he probably underestimated the standard of the league.
The former Leinster man was known as an effective ball carrier during his stellar underage career that yielded two Leinster Schools Senior Cup medals and an appearance at the U20 World Cup but admits to having had to work hard on his play in the tight to match his skills in the loose.
“It is a great league and I probably didn’t realise how good it was,” Gilsenan said.
“When I was at Leinster I wouldn’t have really rated it. But regardless of whether you’re playing a team at the top or the bottom you know it is going to be really tough.”
“It’s very direct and probably more forward orientated than the Pro12,” he continued.
“I had to work on my mauling and lineouts because there is a lot of setting a maul and squeezing a penalty or having a scrum and squeezing a penalty.”
London Irish have new owners who want to recapture the feeling of Irishness at the club in order to attract more ex-pats to games. While the side have struggled this season – they are currently tenth in the league – they have recruited well ahead of next year with All Black Ben Franks and Lion Sean Maitland set to join the team.
Gilsenan spoke of the excitement of playing alongside such quality players and also acknowledged how the Irish presence at the club has helped him adjust to the move.
“It makes life a hell of a lot easier,” Gilsenan said.
“We have Eamonn Sheridan, Tomas O’Leary, Eoin Griffin and Jamie Hagan so there is a good little crew of Irish guys here. A lot of Irish people send me tweets before games and that is nice too. I think if we get up the table, have a few Irish guys in the team and bring some more of the Irish people in London to games then it will be a good formula.”
“I haven’t been asked to sell the club to any Irish guys but if I was then I’d speak very highly of it,” he continued.
Besides the new on-field recruits for next season there will also be major changes to the coaching staff. Chiefs forwards coach Tom Coventry will be the new head coach while Irish have also gotten two other Super Rugby coaches to take charge of defence and attack.
As Gilsenan says, Coventry has gotten the seal of approval from one of rugby’s most astute minds so London Irish have probably made a shrewd appointment.
“I’ve heard good stuff about Tom and he is an ex-back row so hopefully I can learn a few things from him,” Gilsenan said.
“I know Joe Schmidt speaks very highly of him.”
Away from rugby, Gilsenan has enjoyed life just outside London. He has a few Irish friends who live in the city and he has also taken in the action at Wimbledon and Stamford Bridge since moving over.
He enjoys all the options London offers away from rugby but he is focused on getting the attention of the incoming coaches by finishing this season strongly. But despite his recent run in the side, Gilsenan was dropped for this weekend’s visit to Harlequins.
He didn’t hide his feelings about the decision but is also determined to make the most of his opportunities when team-mates go away to the World Cup.
“Blair [Cowan] is back in the side and I’m gone completely,” Gilsenan said.
“I’m not going to dress it up – I am very disappointed.”
“I need to hit the ground running when I am back in July,” he continued.
“There will be a lot of guys in camp for the World Cup and our season doesn’t start until October this year so I will have a lot of time to put on weight and make sure I’m fit.”
Originally published at 20.30
