JAMISON GIBSON-PARK, Leinster’s Kiwi scrum-half, has declared his intentions to remain at the province despite being largely limited to a bench role during his debut season.
The Maori All Black, who celebrates his 25th birthday today, joined Leinster from the Hurricanes on a three-year contract last May following the retirement of Eoin Reddan and departure of Isaac Boss.
Gibson-Park has, however, made 13 of his 20 appearances this campaign as a replacement with Luke McGrath establishing himself as Leo Cullen’s first-choice nine.
It’s a situation he is all too familiar with having been understudy to TJ Perenara at the Hurricanes and he’s found himself down the pecking order again at his new club.
“I knew Luke was a very good player having followed the season a little bit back in New Zealand so I knew he was a good player,” Gibson-Park told The42.
“It has been good, we challenge each other in training and that sort of thing and I’m happy enough to sit on the bench if it’s the best thing for the team. I’m looking forward to the back end of the season.
“We [he and McGrath] don’t give it to each other easy and we definitely push each other to the limits pretty much to get that jersey but we have to do what’s best for the team and one of us has to sit on the bench and so be it.
“When you come off the bench you want to make a big impact and at the moment that’s my role and I’m trying to do it as best I can.”
With McGrath pushing for inclusion at international level, Gibson-Park has seen greater opportunities during this Six Nations period and will tomorrow night win his eighth Guinness Pro12 start when Cullen’s men travel to the Dragons.
It represents a real chance for him to stake a claim and remind the Leinster management of his credentials in that position having played just 724 minutes of rugby throughout the whole season so far.
Even still, Gibson-Park says he has thoroughly enjoyed his first few months in Ireland and reiterated how impressed he has been with the eastern province’s set-up and infrastructure at their UCD base.
“This set-up is pretty impressive, it’s probably the best I’ve been part of,” he continued. ”
The facilities, the coaches and the squad depth is very impressive.
“Rugby wise and beyond it as well, I’ve been pretty happy with what’s happened and the weather hasn’t been too bad so I’m happy enough with that. The atmosphere and affiliation players have with the club is class.
“In the southern hemisphere you wouldn’t get teams like that when everyone is from the province so it’s pretty awesome. These guys are born and bred here and they want to play for that jersey so I’ve been very impressed. The following and supporters are unbelievable, they follow us to Zebre and Treviso and all over the place.”
On his contract situation, Gibson-Park says he hasn’t given his future much thought and just wants to concentrate on playing rugby and hopefully staying at Leinster for as long as he can.
“A lot can happen between now and the back end of that [three-year contract] but as I said I’m very excited looking forward and to what the future holds.
“I haven’t given it much thought, at the moment my mind is on Leinster and this season but I wouldn’t mind staying at Leinster for a wee while as it’s a pretty awesome club and I’ve enjoyed my time so far.”
– Updated at 15.40pm
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