WHEN PETE WILKINS felt the need to install a new captain at Connacht, he looked around his squad and felt the outstanding candidate was a 24-year-old who had arrived from a rival province just four years ago.
In many ways, Cian Prendergast is as Connacht as it gets. As Wilkins puts it, the Kildare man “is the embodiment of what we want to stand for this season.”
Like so many of this Connacht squad, Prendergast arrived as an outsider. Surplus to requirements at Leinster, the young Prendergast moved to Connacht in the summer of 2020 and quickly went about making his new surroundings feel like home. He was feisty, determined, and desperate for his chance.
By the end of his first season out west the young Prendergast had impressed in clocking up 10 appearances for his new team. The following year he took a massive step in his development, starting 20 games. In 2022/23 he became an Ireland international and last season was his strongest yet, bringing an attritional edge to the Connacht team as he shifted between the six and eight jerseys. He’s not the first man to see his career resurrected by a move to Galway.
His promotion to club captain feels like a natural step but when asked about the attributes required to be a good skipper, Prendergast momentarily struggles for an answer.
“I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about that question,” he says. “For me, it’s just about being authentic to myself, being who I truly am and living to my standards and hopefully that’s an example for the rest of the playing group and everyone who is associated with Connacht rugby.
In fairness to Pete, he said that you’re the captain because you are who you are.
“I have to focus on myself and be the best version of myself on game day, and be the best representation of the club I can be on game day.
“I wouldn’t describe it as a surprise [to be named captain], but I wouldn’t say I was expecting it.”
Prendergast takes over the role from Jack Carty, who Wilkins believes will be “freed up” by dropping the pressures of captaincy. And yet you get the sense those responsibilities won’t weigh heavily on Prendergast’s shoulders.
“I’ve got amazing people around me. I’ve got Pete as head coach, Willie [Ruane] as CEO, legends of the club like Eric Elwood who is just 20 metres away if I need a chat.
“Within the playing group, I’ve [vice-captains] Dave [Heffernan] and Joe [Joyce] and a strong leadership group with Finlay [Bealham], Paul [Boyle], Conor [Oliver] and those characters, and then a wealth of international experience with Bundee [Aki] and Santiago [Cordero] and Mack [Hansen].”
Prendergast will also take different bits from the captains he’s played under, both at Connacht and with Ireland.
“Jarrod [Butler], he was an incredible person first of all. He made the effort to build relationships with everyone around him and it wasn’t the fact he was captain, that was just the person who he was. It’s the ability to form connections, whether it’s a small inside joke, or a handshake with someone, the ability to do that.
“Jack [Carty] sums up everything Connacht rugby is. He sacrifices everything for this place, he lives and breathes this place. And I’m just fortunate to have those people before me going into this job.”
It’s a significant season for Connacht, with last year petering out to a disappointing end. In Wilkins’ first campaign as head coach, the province struggled for consistency and had some issues with their defence as they slipped to an 11th place finish in the URC, missing out on the playoffs.
Getting to the knockouts will be the minimum goal this time around and it was interesting to hear Wilkins speak about a need to improve the culture around the squad earlier this week. As captain, Prendergast will be tasked with leading that shift, and it starts with a difficult URC opener away to Munster tomorrow [KO 5.30pm, RTÉ/Premier Sports].
“I think it’s just about continuing to evolve and continuing to get better every week,” Prendergast says.
“Every team in the URC is searching for consistency to move in the right direction. For us, it’s just about nailing our context week-to-week, every day coming in and trying to get better and becoming more connected as a group. The results should show on a Saturday or a Friday night.
“Regardless of who you’re playing it’s always going to be tough at the start of the season. Thomond Park, an interpro, it’s always a high level of emotion, but what we’re trying to do is bring the best version of ourselves and show the work that we’ve put in in pre-season.”
It’s no coincidence that among the standout players this season are players returning from the UK – Mandriou, Byrne and Parkhouse.
The league can continue to nurture and produce talent going forward. It’s not a flash in the pan.
It has its problems but talented young footballers is not one of them.
With all due respect the chap is a Northern Irish player … what is the relevance or point of the article. No disrespect to him but he isn’t ours he is an NI player.
@DB: I presume this is an all island app. It covers lots of stuff from across the border. He plays for Derry city which is situated across the border but plays in the league of Ireland. Don’t be getting too worried about it
@DB: because he plays in the LOI and is as Irish as you.
@Baz Harkin: while I don’t agree with the initial post, I don’t agree with your retort. He plays for Northern Ireland. He has the option to play for Ireland which he has not exercised. He is not as Irish as someone who would exercise that option if they had the opportunity.
@Baz Harkin: Not that I agree but the courts ruled recently that those born in the North of this country are indeed British citizens and not Irish.
@Padraig Corcoran: if you don’t agree then why post it? That decision is wrong and will be challenged. As it says inside the Irish passport and written and agreed on in the good Friday agreement anyone born on the island of Ireland is Irish.
@EnKy: he’s played for the north up to under 21 level same as James McClean and Shane Duffy does that mean they aren’t ‘Irish’ either? . So by your logic is Eoin Morgan Irish or English?
@EnKy: also look at our under 21 side it’s full of great attacking options he’s probably looked at that and decided he would stand a far better chance getting international experience playing for the north.
@Baz Harkin: Surely I can bring up something I might disagree with in principle but can still be used to make a point.
@Baz Harkin: What a way to exercise one’s patriotism…
@EnKy: what’s more patriotic than denying a young man his identity based solely on which under age football team he represents
@EnKy: What a mad post. Are you suggesting that playing for Northern Ireland means you don’t have the right to Irish identity? Is Irishness only afforded to those from the south? Or those from the north who are good enough at football to represent the south?
What’s his nationality then – is he British? Or northern Irish? Do you therefore call yourself southern Irish or just Irish?
What’s paddy McCourt’s nationality?
I’ve resigned myself to the post Celtic tiger generation knowing and caring little about the north, but to have to listen to people claim we’re not Irish because we might represent the jurisdiction created by you lot selling us down the river is hard to take
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: well said!!
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: offence was not meant. Northern Ireland is Ireland all 32 counties are Ireland . But anyone who thinks that NI football team represents or wants anything Irish has never been to Windsor park match day never seen the Para or paramilitary flags or never heard the anti Fenian chants. The football team play god save the queen as their anthem.This is their right but that’s all I meant Btw The james Mc Cleans of this world have put up with more abuse because of their Irish nationalism and I have nothing but admiration for them. Anton rogan Neil Lennon booed and death threats because of their religion is the history of IFA supporters
@DB: so would you regard Neil Lennon as Irish seeing as he played for NI
@Eamonn O Connell: yes 100% absolutely of course. But wish he had played for Republic.
Its a pity people can’t take the article for what it is without going all geo political on it, I hope the young lad does well at whatever level or whichever country he plays for