LIFE AT LEINSTER was bittersweet for Quinn Roux, but the South African lock has started his time with Connacht in entirely positive fashion.
Following two seasons of limited exposure in Leinster, the 24-year-old took up the option of a loan switch into Pat Lam’s squad at the start of the current campaign.
13 starts in the second row later, Roux has penned a two-year deal to remain with Connacht until at least 2017. His aggressive performances on the pitch mean that contract has been earned the hard way.
“I didn’t really look for it, it was just a matter of game time,” says Roux of his original decision to move out west.
I didn’t get a lot of game time at Leinster and obviously that’s not great. I got the opportunity to come here to see if I could get games. Obviously I wasn’t going to say no to that, because the more you play, the more you improve. It all rolled on from there.”
A total of 14 starts in his two seasons at Leinster simply weren’t enough to allow Roux to develop as swiftly as he would have liked. Injuries added to the frustration during his time with the eastern province, but the former Stormers lock insists he looks back on his time under Joe Schmidt and Matt O’Connor positively.
“Obviously the injuries and stuff when I came in the first season weren’t great, but I’ve also got some great memories of winning three cups with them,” says Roux of the two Pro12 trophies and one Challenge Cup Leinster secured during his stint.
“There were a few disappointments there, but those memories I will treasure forever. Hopefully I can make a few more memories here in Connacht.”
Roux is enjoying life in the “really friendly city” of Galway since leaving Dublin, and says his girlfriend has settled well too. The main difference, points out the second row, is the wild weather, although he has no problem playing in inclement conditions.
The ex-Affies student explains that working with forwards coach Dan McFarland has been good for his game, such is the former Stade Français prop’s “focus on the little details” and set-piece knowledge.
Furthermore, Roux echoes so many of his teammates in praising the work of head coach Pat Lam.
Pat’s a great coach, he puts a lot of belief into the players,” says Roux. “I’ve been lucky to have a lot of game time playing under him and obviously it shows how he’s putting a culture into Connacht.
“It’s working and for me personally it’s been great playing under him and being part of the culture, seeing what we can achieve by believing in each other.”
Roux qualifies to play for Ireland in August of this year, when he will have lived here for three years, and the national team’s head coach, Schmidt, is the man who originally signed the bruiser for Leinster.
That was only on a one-year deal, but the Kiwi coach clearly saw the potential in Roux. The man himself is not spending too much time pondering an international future.
“Not really,” says Roux. “It’s obviously going to be in the back of my mind, but that’s not the main focus for me at the moment, personally. When it comes to that stage, hopefully I’ve been playing really well and working on what I’m doing now, working on my performances.
“When it comes to that, it comes to that, but at the moment there’s no use in thinking about that kind of stuff. I just want to focus on my game and keep building my game.”
In that regard, the Exeter Chiefs provide the latest punching bag for Roux to test his powerful tackling, strong ball-carrying and ever-improving set-piece work on.
A potential home Challenge Cup quarter-final lies in wait for the victor of Sunday’s meeting at the Sportsground [KO 15.15], and Roux is highly motivated.
“Definitely. I’d say there’s a massive opportunity to go into the play-offs. If we can win this weekend, there’s that massive chance of maybe even a home quarter-final. We won’t look that far ahead though, we’ll just focus on this weekend’s game.”
Leitrims year this year we’ve been knocking on the door for the last 100 years.
Agree. Ye just weren’t good enough the other 32.
Well Niall with Leicester winning – maybe they will!
What county is Leitrem in?
I would say Dublin will win it. I doubt it will be easy this time though. Tyrone have been putting together this side for the past few years and they look to be on the verge of something.
Who’s going to stop the Dubs in fairness? I’m not a Dub & I’m not going to rant about money, Croke Park, sponsorship, population, whatever. No matter what the reason is, they’re the best team in the country & that’s all there is to it.
The best, but not unbeatable. Any of the other top sides can beat them on any given day. Problem with the championship is they wint meet another top side till august.
Ya Tyrone might come close,they have been building & will use arms Knees elbows pulling dragging diving fouling spitting there way to the Top!!
A true a plague of Misery & disease to Football!!
Similar to Kerry and Dublin so…
Its hard to look past the Dubs. But in football you just never know. Kerry,Mayo and Tyrone are the only ones that have a chance of beating them. It’s just a pity we will have to wait until August for clashes between the big teams.
I’m not from Dublin but they will go on and win Sam Maguire again and next year they will do the same. No county in Ireland are good enough to beat Dublin.
Cork waiting in the long grass….
Mayo seem to have plenty of things going well for them. The likes of Evan Regan and Conor O’Shea look well suited to top quality football. Diarmuid o Conner is going from strength to strength and I can see a few of his fellow U21 Winning Teammates making the step up in the next few years possibly even this year . Then again we never know with Mayo do we.
lol Mayo
Mayo.
I’m offended that you haven’t included Down!
Build a bridge Niall
Down? Lmao
Ah come on lads, it’s clearly a joke. We’re feckin terrible.
Some clowns just don’t understand funny
I wouldn’t rule out roscommon after last night’s performance. They will grow in confidence as the year goes on
Probably poll should have been just Dublin or others.
I know this sounds absurd but Dublin are the only good team. The only team I can see challenging them is Tyrone. Kerry don’t have the players they used to and Mayo well they just have yellow bellies to be metaphorical. Dublin also have an amazing benchCostello, McMahon, Small to name a few. Dublin will win and they will win well.
McMahon and Small on the bench?
Silly question the dubs 100%
Big year for Roscommon?
Leitrims year