AFTER 17 YEARS, 60 tries, about 500 assisted choke tackles and a few questionable hairstyles, Gordon D’Arcy will step away from Leinster rugby at the season’s end, and from rugby altogether after the World Cup.
The centre signed a contract extension to take him until the end of October, obviously with a view to making Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad before retiring.
However, Leinster skills coach Richie Murphy confirmed today that if D’Arcy doesn’t make the squad, he should be available to provide cover for Leinster during the World Cup.
“I think that is the situation if that arises,” Murphy answered when asked about D’Arcy’s availability for Leinster were he not to make the national squad.
“He is contracted until the end of October so if he is not with Ireland, he should be here.”
Of course, were he to return to play for Leinster in next season’s opening months, it would be in the strange situation of already having had an emotional farewell at the RDS.
Last Friday’s win over Treviso saw D’Arcy get a massive ovation from the crowd, while his parents warmly embraced him as he walked off the pitch.
The Leinster assistant coach joked that last week’s game could end up being the first in a long line of ‘last games’ for D’Arcy, just like how his former centre partner Brian O’Driscoll enjoyed an extended farewell tour.
“It was the first one of his last games,” Murphy said with a laugh.
“It was a difficult one, how do you acknowledge someone after 17 years of service? If he never plays again [at the RDS], it would have been terrible not to give me what he deserved.”
Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season
O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.
He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.
Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think
That pop pass from O’Brien
Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.
It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.
It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.