YOU CAN ONLY imagine Jack Conan as a vibrant and positive person. His industry on the pitch is matched by his energy off it, but it has been a tough year for the Leinster man.
After making his Ireland debut against Scotland in August of last year, the 24-year-old’s career was on the cusp of taking off. He had announced himself two years previous, scoring a try just minutes into his first appearance for Leinster. Everything was heading on an upward trajectory.
And then injury struck. He completed 80 minutes just four times for the province last season after 10 weeks on the sideline with a broken foot and then a further three months out with an ankle complaint. In-between, he played once.
During the hours, weeks and months of monotonous rehab and marginal progress, Conan has watched his peers, the likes of Josh van der Flier and Dan Leavy, establish themselves and in the former’s case, earn international honours.
Remaining upbeat through it all and dealing with the cruel setbacks must have been difficult.
“You’re coming in here every day and it’s marginal progress,” he says. “Every single day and sometimes when you don’t see any progress it is tough to take and it can weigh heavy on your mind.
“The thing is to stay positive and I had a couple of the lads who were injured as well so I had people in here that were going through the same and it’s always handy to sit down at the end of the week and have a coffee and vent your frustration and anger.”
After returning to full fitness during pre-season, Conan’s injury nightmare continued into this season as he was forced to undergo ankle surgery after sustaining a problem in a friendly win over Gloucester.
It meant he had to return to the treatment room and wait patiently for another two months for his chance to return.
After biding his time and proving himself in a couple of A games, Conan got that opportunity last Saturday against Connacht as he made his first start at the RDS for over a year.
“It’s good to be back,” he continues. “I feel like I have lost a year in my career in some regards. So when Leo (Cullen) told me early last week that I was getting the opportunity to run out again, I was unbelievably excited.
“It felt like my first cap again. I was in the changing room beforehand and was a bit overcome with nerves. They kind of went when I ran out and saw the stadium full to capacity, the crowd and the atmosphere. It was great to be back and playing well.”
After such a long period on the sidelines, the former St Gerard’s student admits doubts reverberated in the moments leading up to kick-off.
“You just get a bit worried, doubt just kind of creeps into the back of your mind and I was worried. ‘Jeez I haven’t played at this level for a while, am I going to be up to it, am I going to be where I need to be for every play and am I going to make all my hits?’
“I think the second the whistle goes and those thoughts are gone out the back of your head, I made the first carry of the game and after all that’s gone you’re just into the routine of playing a rugby match.”
For the last year, Conan’s routine has involved tireless work with the Leinster medical staff, rebuilding the strength in his knee and then ankle after going under the knife to rectify two separate issues.
“I am envious of how the lads have gone in the last 12 months. You have seen people step up and take the mantle. Josh has been absolutely fantastic. In my opinion he has been our best player so far this year and through large periods of last season. Dan too, two lads I have known for many years.
“It is a great to see them going so well and taking their opportunity. I am envious of how well they have played. I want that for myself now that I am back and fit finally. For me, I can’t worry about other people; it’s about looking inward and focusing on what I need to improve on. I am just happy to be back and focusing on myself.
“I was unfortunate to get back, play one game and get injured again but I think through that despair it drove my desire to better myself and get back on the pitch and now I’m here. That always weighed heavy in the back of my head that I did miss a large portion of a year and I do have a lot of missed time to make up for but when you see other people excel that will drive me to be better. I want to improve myself massively over the next few months.”
If Conan was feeling the nerves on Saturday, he certainly didn’t show them with an explosive performance on his first start back in a Leinster jersey. It was an encouraging return for a player who had previously become a regular after a standout season two years ago.
He channelled all that frustration into a polished all-round display which underlined why he had become part of Joe Schmidt’s plans before he was dealt a cruel hand.
His self-confidence and positivity has remained through it all and now Conan is focused on returning to the heights he had reached before injury struck him down — as well as giving a bit of time to a newly discovered hobby.
“Myself, Cian Healy and Mick Kearney are doing a woodwork course at the moment,” he explains.
“It’s a bit different. I feel bad now for the two lads as Cian is trying to bend the wood and break it with his hands and Mick is kind of all over the place. He can’t cut a straight line for the life of him. I think I’m a class above the two lads when it comes to woodwork.
“It’s been enjoyable now I must say, it has been once a week, something small but nice to kind of switch off and do something. You get out a bit of pent-up aggression. I know a couple of weeks ago I was coming back and I trained poorly on a Tuesday and I was quite livid at myself. I went to woodwork and it can be quite soothing.”
“When I’m finished with my masterpiece I’m going to give it to Guy Easterby (who is sitting in the room) and let it sit in his office. It’s a big mirror which I’m sure he’ll love. That will take a few weeks but it will be nice to decorate just before Christmas,” Conan jokes.
He’s back and on form anyway.
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