THE SHORTLIST FOR RTÉ Sports Person of the Yearis packed with worthy contenders. Sean Farrell argues in favour of Ireland’s ever-present number eight, Jamie Heaslip…
INPHO / Billy Stickland
INPHO / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
IN A GAME that is pushing limits of physicality with an injury toll that feels more brutal than every previous year, one man continues to defy the odds.
Jamie Heaslip is not the flashy breed of number eight; he hasn’t been for a long, long time. He takes pride in doing the simple things brilliantly, and the simple things extend to ticking every box off the field to ensure his durability is sustained.
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Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
He is a Trojan presence in the pack for his province and country and will be again for the Lions in New Zealand next summer. He is a coach’s dream because he consistently makes the right choice, accurate interventions, and maintains his energy and work-rate levels right through each and every 80 minutes.
Indeed, in the final November Test against Australia, the press box at the Aviva Stadium was forced into a collective furrowed brow and puzzled look around to see if anybody had any idea how Heaslip had been injured. He hadn’t, it was just a rare call for the Kildare man to be replaced on the night of his 91st cap.
As he turns 33, Heaslip is playing some of the very best rugby of his career. In the two clashes with the All Blacks last month he comprehensively outplayed his opposite number, New Zealand captain Kieran Read, and helped pull his country up to match the world’s best team.
Go back a bit beyond the boundaries of 2016, to the beginning of the elongated 2015/16 season, and it becomes apparent just how essential Heaslip is to Joe Schmidt’s cause. Leaving aside his fine finish to the IRPA Try of the Year (though his boundless energy took him the length of the field in pursuit of a potential opportunity), Heaslip started in 16 of Ireland’s 17 internationals last season – from bruising early encounters with Wales to the ridiculously intense World Cup win over France all the way through playing all 240 minutes in the tour of South Africa.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
He earned a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination by helping Ireland to historical results against the Springboks and the All Blacks, and presuming his contract brinksmanship comes to the expected conclusion, one day he will challenge even Brian O’Driscoll’s record of Test caps.
It’s time to celebrate what Jamie Heaslip has given to Ireland: excellence that’s built to last.
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Sports Person of the Year 2016: Why Jamie Heaslip deserves his place on the shortlist
THE SHORTLIST FOR RTÉ Sports Person of the Year is packed with worthy contenders. Sean Farrell argues in favour of Ireland’s ever-present number eight, Jamie Heaslip…
IN A GAME that is pushing limits of physicality with an injury toll that feels more brutal than every previous year, one man continues to defy the odds.
Jamie Heaslip is not the flashy breed of number eight; he hasn’t been for a long, long time. He takes pride in doing the simple things brilliantly, and the simple things extend to ticking every box off the field to ensure his durability is sustained.
He is a Trojan presence in the pack for his province and country and will be again for the Lions in New Zealand next summer. He is a coach’s dream because he consistently makes the right choice, accurate interventions, and maintains his energy and work-rate levels right through each and every 80 minutes.
Indeed, in the final November Test against Australia, the press box at the Aviva Stadium was forced into a collective furrowed brow and puzzled look around to see if anybody had any idea how Heaslip had been injured. He hadn’t, it was just a rare call for the Kildare man to be replaced on the night of his 91st cap.
As he turns 33, Heaslip is playing some of the very best rugby of his career. In the two clashes with the All Blacks last month he comprehensively outplayed his opposite number, New Zealand captain Kieran Read, and helped pull his country up to match the world’s best team.
Go back a bit beyond the boundaries of 2016, to the beginning of the elongated 2015/16 season, and it becomes apparent just how essential Heaslip is to Joe Schmidt’s cause. Leaving aside his fine finish to the IRPA Try of the Year (though his boundless energy took him the length of the field in pursuit of a potential opportunity), Heaslip started in 16 of Ireland’s 17 internationals last season – from bruising early encounters with Wales to the ridiculously intense World Cup win over France all the way through playing all 240 minutes in the tour of South Africa.
He earned a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination by helping Ireland to historical results against the Springboks and the All Blacks, and presuming his contract brinksmanship comes to the expected conclusion, one day he will challenge even Brian O’Driscoll’s record of Test caps.
It’s time to celebrate what Jamie Heaslip has given to Ireland: excellence that’s built to last.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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Jamie Heaslip SPOTY 2016