THERE WAS A lovely moment shortly after the full-time whistle at Kingspan Stadium a couple of weeks ago. Ulster and the Cheetahs had just produced an incredibly physical and entertaining contest on the opening night of the new season, and both sets of players embarked together on a lap of the pitch to show their appreciation for the support inside the ground.
Down below the press seating in the Grandstand at Ravenhill, Andrew Trimble stopped where his young family had made their way around to and brought his young son, Jack — who was kitted out in the latest Ulster jersey, out onto the pitch. It wasn’t the last game of the year or a trophy celebration, but watching the Ireland international share those moments with his wife and kids was a nice reminder that rugby players are normal human beings too. Sometimes we can lose sight of that.
We analyse and dissect their every movement on the pitch, and most of the time their actions off it too, and view and portray them as these herculean-like figures who are well-oiled machines tuned to perform to the highest standards both mentally and physically.
There is also the preconception that rugby is a game of unadulterated masculinity; fast, ferocious and brutal. Players are immortal, unbreakable and untouchable — they are immune from fragility and exempt from weaknesses — but the reality is different. In fact, the reality is very different.
In a recent survey carried out by Rugby Players Ireland, results showed as many as 41.7% of professional rugby players in this country have reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Furthermore, 93% admit they worry about team selection and 70% worry about what the future holds once their rugby career ends.
These findings and figures are even more startling when you place them side-by-side with national surveys which have found one in six people in Ireland will experience anxiety and/or depression every year. Regularly portrayed as infallible beings, it’s now fact that rugby players face many of the same stresses, strains and difficulties that accompany any profession.
Granted it is a handsomely remunerated profession and it is a player’s choice to pursue a professional career, thus placing themselves on a platform from which people will judge, scrutinise and criticise their actions — but that does not trivialise the issue of mental health in rugby in comparison with any other section or sector of society.
In a cafe in Belfast city centre on Wednesday, Trimble joined three of his Ulster team-mates on their day off from training for a regular catch-up over coffee — only the conversation this week was different to other weeks.
The 32-year-old, Stuart McCloskey, Darren Cave and Craig Gilroy are the latest players to be the focus of the ‘Tackle Your Feelings’ campaign and are lending their support to a cause which has helped break down the stigma around emotional vulnerability in rugby.
“Initially I thought it would be awkward but it ended up being the most normal thing ever,” Trimble tells The42. “Behind the jersey and away from the cameras people can forget we are just regular guys who wake up like everyone else with headaches and stresses.
“This is about going for a coffee with a couple of friends and just being open and sharing your feelings with them. If you’re not feeling okay it gives you the chance to be honest with each other. It’s pretty normal to feel stressed or under pressure and it’s something we experience in our environment too even though it’s typically considered quite a macho environment.
“I want to contribute and help in whatever way I can and we’re in the privileged position to be able to do something. To inspire others and urge them to speak up and share their feelings with someone you trust.”
Trimble recognises that his profile as a 70-time capped Ireland international means he can make an impact and help change attitudes, break down the stigma and get people talking — but most of all it has helped change his perspective.
From the outside, the winger is seen as a laid-back, unflappable character. He is hard-working and driven and to the public he comes across as a player who oozes confidence. To a large extent, that’s true but there is another side to Trimble; one which worries and stresses over injuries and form and questions why he continues to play the sport when things don’t go his way.
Understanding those feelings and having a better appreciation of why he is feeling like that at certain times has helped him manage his emotions and open up to his family and friends about the burdens which can often weigh heavy.
“Whatever your job is, when things are going well and then when they aren’t going so good you can feel the difference and the way you hold yourself or engage with people,” he continues.
“For me, if things go well or even if I have a good training session or a good game then I feel like I’m just untouchable and I’m bouncing all weekend. Injury is the one that gets me down though. If I pick up a knock or injury I just think ‘oh here we go again’ and I just think I want to do something else with my life.
“It’s just so ridiculously dramatic and such a dramatic swing in emotions so it’s about levelling that and coming to terms with that and being honest. Admitting you’re feeling crap today but identifying why you feel like that and talking about it.
“Before I would have been reluctant to talk about my feelings. My personality is generally to keep things to myself but I’ve become more aware that it is important to share my feelings with someone you can trust — but also to identify it yourself. In the past I wouldn’t have even identified feeling disappointed or frustrated with being injured but now I can see it and understand why it happens. That makes things a lot easier.”
Trimble needed to be able to recognise those feelings more than ever last year. A foot tendon issue, hamstring trouble and then a broken bone in his hand meant he played just 11 times for Ulster last term and when the word injury is pluralised in a single season, the mental strain is so often harder to bear than the physical rehabilitation work.
At times, Trimble sank to deep lows as he faced lengthy periods on the sidelines and the frustrations were beginning to spill into his everyday life at home.
He explains: “There have been a number of occasions when I’ve hit rock bottom. I absolutely love rugby and I’ve been very, very fortunate I’ve had the chance to play professionally and play a sport I love with a lot of my good mates. I am very lucky but I’m also aware I might only play one more game and pick up an injury which means the rest of my career doesn’t work out the way I want it to. It’s just perspective, that’s important for me now.
“Whenever I get injured, I think I can’t do this anymore and I’m going to do something different but the thing is that if I had another job you’d have the same kind of stresses and pressures, just in a different way. It’s important to deal with them whatever your profession and I’m learning to do that.
“Having two young kids has put perspective on things, too. I love getting the chance to take my wee fella for a bike ride or kick a ball with him and there’s lads playing rugby taking knocks and everything is achy and they’ve sore backs at the age of 30. There’s a big thing with concussion as well and these are all things that I’m aware of.
“I’m happy to take a risk with a lot of these things because I love the sport and the game but at the same time the rest of my life is so much more important. My wife and my kids, being active and being able to go on holidays and living a normal life. That perspective is quite important to have that and it helps with coping with disappointments in rugby as well.”
At the moment, however, things are going well for Trimble and Ulster on the pitch. The northern province have opened the new season with four wins from four and will look to make it five when they face Zebre later today.
The game will be a landmark one for Trimble, who not only captains Les Kiss’ side but will equal Roger Wilson’s record of 221 appearances for Ulster 12 years after his debut.
“It’s probably tempting to fall in love with ourselves a bit and it’s all singing and dancing,” he says of Ulster’s encouraging start as they look to end their 11-year trophy drought.
“We’re four from four, we haven’t put a foot wrong yet but there’s definitely moments in games we can do better. We can execute our skills better and we can get our shape better and our defence can better. There’s a lot of things we can continue to work on and there are big tests around the corner.
“We say this every single year: there’s something special about this group of lads but genuinely it does feel like something is going on this year. All the work we did in the summer on our phase play and shape has given us the ability to play with confidence and composure and really test sides. We’re really excited about that and where it can go. Last couple of weeks it has come on loads and three or four weeks down the line hopefully we’ll really get into our strides and express ourselves.
“There’s something going on at Ulster, we’re excited about training, we’re excited about playing and we’re excited about spending time together. The squad is very close at the minute.”
And it’s clear Trimble is enjoying rugby again. He never lost his love for the game but there’s only so many setbacks one player can take so it’s encouraging to hear he is back to full fitness now and feeling as strong and as sharp as ever with a full pre-season behind him.
He will finish his Masters degree in finance from Queen’s University in a couple of weeks and is constantly keeping one eye on interests and opportunities outside of rugby to ensure there is a smooth transition once he does hang up his boots.
But right now, the focus is on Ulster and, to a certain extent, Ireland.
With the November Internationals fast coming around the corner, it would be a lie to say Trimble hasn’t considered getting back involved this Autumn having missed the last two games of the Six Nations as well as the summer tour to USA and Japan.
Having featured in 10 of Ireland’s 11 games in 2016, Trimble has played just once for Joe Schmidt’s side in 2017 and while he insists his primary goal is to reach peak form with Ulster, he knows if he can achieve that in the coming weeks there’s every chance he’ll be back in the international fold when the Springboks visit Dublin.
“Regardless of where I’m at with Ulster, November doesn’t exist to me until I play well enough to make it happen,” he says.
“There’s a lot of competition for places at Ulster and it would be ideal to be involved with Ireland but for me I just want to be involved at Ulster and play and perform well. Just get back feeling confident and powerful. Go out and express myself and once I get there I’ll start thinking about Ireland again.”
Trimble is in a better place both mentally and physically in this his 13th season as a professional rugby player with Ulster, and certainly the working environment he walks into everyday now is a lot different to when he started.
“The attitude in the dressing room towards mental health and towards talking and being open is changing,” he adds.
“I don’t think it’s something that will totally change as the culture isn’t going to shift overnight but it is something that is gradually changing. Young guys are coming into the squad and having an impact and being more aware. If we can facilitate that then it makes all this worth it.
“Players aren’t being influenced by that traditional macho rugby culture anymore and the older guys as well are coming around to it too. It’s probably not what people imagine it is. The stereotypes are a million miles away from the reality. At the end of the day we’re just normal guys who happen to play rugby.”
Ulster’s Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave and Stuart McCloskey have put their voices behind Rugby Players Ireland’s Tackle Your Feelings mental wellbeing campaign, in association with Zurich. More info can be found here.
Rugby Players Ireland / Vimeo
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
Kevin Long is such a weird one.
29 years old. At Burnley for nearly ten years. Presumably on a half decent wage. Comes to the side in when Ben Mee or James Tarkowski are injured and rarely puts a foot wrong at EPL level.
Never complains in the press or agitates for a transfer.
Played well again for Ireland tonight but can really only be seen as a bit part player for his country because that’s what he is for Burnley?
Couldn’t have him in ahead of Clark who’s just after battling to win his place back in Steve Bruce’s improving Newcastle side.
@Donal McGrath: every time he plays he looks like our most assured defender, and is probably the best of them on the ball. It’s a weird one alright, but if we actually want to play ball we need central defenders like him who can hold and pass the ball rather than lumping it forward after 2 or 3 sideways passes and getting themselves in trouble
@Donal McGrath: agreed regarding Kevin Long, looked solid again tonight. Clark done very well too and thought he would have been in with a chance of starting Monday potentially depending on the formation Mick goes with.
@Donal McGrath: i thought he was excellent and if i was any team coming up to the premiership that like to pass the ball out from the back hes a good option
I thought Cullen and Byrne were very good. Sadly they have no chance of starting on Monday.
Hendrick and mcclean need to prove themselves,which I doubt they will.
@Fr Romeo sensini.: agree 100%..in neither have performed well for Ireland in the last year or so…no doubting their commitment, but for me I wouldn’t start either against Denmark
Byrne should start, with more senior players around him he could really flourish. And we need to attack. Brady please no, awful display again. Missed an easy take down in the box and then gestured to someone like they had done something wrong. Maguire, good goal but overall very poor.
@Toon Army: agreed. Byrne is creative and his passing is top class. Always looking for a break. In my eyes should defo start.
@Toon Army: It’s funny how everybody sees things differently, I like Byrne but thought he was average last night, maybe even poor, whereas I thought Maguire actually looked dangerous throughout the game and got the great goal to top off a very good performance. I also liked the look of Cullen in the first half but I feel he disappeared a bit in the second. It’ll be some craic if we somehow manage to beat Denmark or get through via the qualifiers and end up at the euros with a couple of games in Dublin!!
@Shane Flanagan: agree with your analysis . Shame Cullen didn’t keep it up for full 90 , you could see his value from first half performance if he played in Danes game. Mcguire isn’t good enough for the next step up unfortunately , very poor oppo last night.I agree would be good craic but not gonna happen . A draw is as good as we can get . No real goal threat. I was really looking forward to mcGold Connolly partnership ..such a a shame
@Michael Flannery: Maguire isn’t good enough?then where does that leave Collins?
@Thomas Devlin: exactly maguire had a really good match byrne browne parrot helped him with that . brady was pish .for a player of his “caliber”
It doesn’t matter how well any of them played because Mick McCarthy has his team picked and it includes McClean, Hendrick and Whealen. Afraid to take a gamble on Byrne, Cullen etc..
Love Parrotts play quick touches such clever movement.would love to see him and mc goldrick play as interchangeable 9 and 10
He’s on the fringes, but any time I’ve seen Alan Judge I think he’s always lively, positive, accurate and creative bringing others around him into the game.
Josh Cullen was my MOTM. He could be used perfectly in this Irish team as he links the play between defenders and attackers so well and just what we need. He was the standout player in our last friendly too so definitely should be in with a shout on Monday to start but I doubt Mick even has him in his thoughts for Monday unfortunately.
I never knew the nz soccer team were the all whites.and the nz basketball team are the TALL blacks. GENIUS.
@Seriously stunned:
Our basketball team are the LITTLE Leprechauns better than GENIUS.
Robinson,Maguire,O’Dowda and a half fit out of form Brady still all better options than James McClean on the left.Cullen was awesome as was Jack Byrne.
Thought Lee O’Connor was solid throughout and the most impressive of the newbies. Great cross for the goal.
Parrott was OK. I’d actually completly agree with Mick Mc’s opinion. “Troy did okay. He didn’t set the world on fire, but what he did I was really pleased with. He ran the channels, had a couple of chances — I know everyone is desperate for him to score — but the ‘keeper thwarted him. I’m pleased, overall.” I would ask the question though, is Adam Idah more deserving of playing last night? He has looked more impressive in the u21 campaign to date than TP imo.
Byrne I thought was very poor. The game was made for a player of his ilk and he didn’t produce anything of note. Ireland had loads of possession and if Byrne can’t show well in that game then he has no place playing against stronger opposition. He’s busy and looks the part, but what did he actually do with the ball? He offers nothing defensively either.
Having watched the U21 game, I like the look of Coventry and we all know about Molumby. Both are much more rounded players than Byrne for example. Both can attack and defend, box to box type players. Byrne is a luxury number 10 type player and I can’t see too many Irish teams over the next 10 years requiring such a player.
@John Lewis Hamilton: Can’t agree with that. He was involved in everything we did that was good in the first half. We had lot’s of possession because he didn’t lose the ball. Faded a bit in the second but we went a bit more direct and he has played a full season now. You’re complaining that he didn’t defend while also talking about how poor the opposition was….where did he let them team down defensively?
Cullen definitely played well enough to force his way into the starting 11, in place of Whelan, and since its a game we need to win I’d rather have Byrne in place of Hendrick who has contributed very little in years. It’s between Robinson and Maguire to play alongside McGoldrick and I think Robinson will hold on to his place. But I think Mick will start with his tried and tested and none of the starting 11 from last night will start Monday, bar perhaps the keeper if Randolph doesn’t recover from injury.
@Ger: The jack Byrne talk is over the top. Every manager in England and Scotland must be wrong. He has some nice touches and plays a few nice passes. You are on about replacing a premier league regular with a 10m price tag . Utter nonsense
@Michael Flannery: Every manager in England and Scotland? How about Holland and Ireland? Did you ask all of them? His troubles in England have been well documented and need to be taken in context. This site alone has done the story to death. At Oldham he was playing brilliantly but they froze him out because they needed to cut the wage bill. The fans petitioned to have him brought back in. Judge him on merit. He’s a 23 year old who can play positive, exciting football. Hendrick may have been valued at 10m at one stage but who would pay that based on his performances for Ireland? Not saying Jack should take his place but your arguments aren’t all that useful.
Hadn’t really seen Cullen play until last night but was really impressed with his ability to link the play with passes from deep. If Glenn Whelan was to get injured or suspended, I think Cullen could do a good job as his replacement.
@EK: if Glen Whelan wasn’t available I think Christy Brown would do a good job as his replacement
@Thomas Devlin: Not in the squad
I cant for the life of me understand the whole Jeff Hendrick thing he was a decent player once but he has literally done nothing this whole qualifying campaign to deserve automatic selection. He spent the last 2 or 3 matches handing the ball back to the opposition through bad passing and im talking 5 or ten yard basic 8 year old could do it stuff. We played some nice ball last night but i presume we will be back to the old hoof it and hope monday night
@Michael McGrath: He just doesn’t look arsed. It’s time to call a spade a spade. He looks bored out there for both Ireland and Burnley
@Michael McGrath: if they tried something different and lost…so be it
@Michael McGrath: if they tried something different and lost…so be it
@Michael McGrath: if they tried something different and lost…so be it
Someone tell Whelan to pack it in please.
It didn’t matter if the Lads had scored ten goals last night the same inept players that Mick has inexplicable faith in will start on Monday and Randolph will probably be man of the match,enough said.
Honestly, compared to just how bad our midfield and upfront has been lately, I’d be playing this and hoping for the best. Randolph, Stevens, Clark, Duffy, Doherty – Cullen, Browne, Hourihane – Robinson, McGoldrick, Maguire.
put them all in the Danes wont have prepared for that !
For me Byrne has to start, looking like our best player now, also Maguire has to play as well, either starting or off the bench
Let’s be honest, we haven’t a hope against Denmark. Mick played ultra conservative against a bog standard Georgian team and now we are screwed. We were rubbish against the Swiss who were equally bog standard. Like MON and Trap, our managers are afraid of invention and afraid to play football. England obliterated Montenegro by playing attacking football. If our mindset is defend defend defend them what is the point? I’ll eat my virtual hat if anyone from that team stats against denmark
@Joe: Joe Joe your the man I’ve been saying this for years and everybody put there ole ole hats. This man is no better than o neill or trap only thing In His favour is 2 qualify from the group. He’s a don’t concede at all costs manager and nobody that played last night will start on Monday. I’m glad I stopped going after Paris 2009 if I’m correcz
Dustin
“SQUAD UPDATE | Derrick Williams ruled out of #IRLDEN due to injury
Lee O’Connor will link back up with #IRLU21 “
Parrott is 18. Duffy is unlikely to start on Tuesday
@Gerry Keogh: parrot is 17
@Gerry Keogh: why wont duffy start?
my Ideal 11
Randolph
Egan, Duffy, Clark
Doherty, Hendricks, Browne, Hourihane, Stevens
Connally Mcgoldrick
Not one of the players from last night will feature is Jack Byrne better than Glen Whelan yes will he start no is Troy Parrot as good as Scott Hogan or James Collins yes will he start no. Mick Mccarthy rarely changes his team he has his favourites just like when he managed before. By the way we’ve only score 6 goals in 7 games and won just 3 Gibralta twice and Georgia. We don’t deserve to qualify but if we score first this man will shut up shop and try to hold on that’s the way he manages.
team i would like to see 4-2-3-1randolph doherty duffy clarke stevens ,cullen hourihane ,maguire, mcoldrick, robinson,parrot
or
3-5-2 long duffy clarke, doherty stevens,cullen hourihane byrne mcgoldrick robinson/maguire. would suit w’bs at club level long and cullen pas it out from the back
at least we would hold onto the ball .byrne and hourihane dead balls .byrne is our best attackinng midfielder not scared to pass the ball tricks take lads on himself give orders he should be brought on if not started. and cullen has to start instead of an over the hill whelan
No way should Maguire be starting any kind of competitive game for Ireland