JAMIE HAGAN HAS taken the road less travelled in his rugby career. From Balbriggan to Leinster to Connacht and back to Leinster before stints at London Irish, Melbourne Rebels and then settling at Beziers in 2016, the tighthead prop has had an adventure-filled time in the professional game.
He’s content with his situation, thankful to make it this far and still be paid to do what he does – but there are “sliding doors” moments, where he considers whether he could have added to his one senior cap for Ireland.
This is especially the case when he thinks about the time he managed to do something not many have achieved – change Joe Schmidt’s mind.
“I’m where I should be,” Hagan told the The42 Rugby Weekly Extra – a podcast available to members of The42 every Monday and Wednesday, adding: “There’s definitely some moments where I go, ‘Ah, if I’d done that’.”
He said: “There’s been a couple of moments, definitely. The moment where I signed for London Irish (in 2013) and I had a very frustrating time.”
Hagan had started the previous season at Leinster “very well” following an indifferent year before that.
“Players had come up to me and said, listen you’re training and playing way better. Michael Bent, a stalwart Leinster player, a great player, he came in ahead of me at Leinster, but then at the end of that season he didn’t have some good performances and I came back in. And I’d already signed for London Irish, and I remember Joe came to me in March and he was like, ‘Have you signed?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve signed two months ago’. He was like, ‘Is there any way you can get out of it?’ And I said . . . ‘I don’t think so’.
“So there’s moments like that where you think, ‘God if I’d been a little more patient in that particular moment would I still be in Ireland?’ That’s a moment I always remember, especially him coming up to me, because he’s Joe Schmidt obviously. It’s one of these conversations where I went, ‘I think I changed this guy’s mind here’, which is hard to do.”
Hagan’s first season at Leinster under Schmidt had been “tough”. Schmidt had told him at the end of the season that he could leave the province. The player, confused, replied that he had two years left on his contract.
“Well,” Schmidt told him, “That’s my opinion basically.”
But by the end of Hagan’s second year with Leinster, 2013, his situation had changed entirely.
“I had an amazing experience at the end, winning the Champions Cup and the Pro12. And then I went and played against America in the US of A and had my one and only cap for Ireland. So that’s probably a sliding doors moment where I go ‘Ooof, what would have happened there?’ But for the rest of my career predominantly I’m happy where I am. I’ve got to experience Australia, and then get to come to France. It’s been a weird old career but it’s definitely been interesting.”
To get access to The42 Rugby Weekly Extra, which comes out every Monday with Gavan Casey, Bernard Jackman, and Murray Kinsella, as well as every Wednesday with Eoin Toolan, become a member of The42 at members.the42.ie.
- Originally published at 11.56
As a Leinster fan I wish Ulster and Munster well in the quarter finals. Its good to see two Irish teams still in it.
Bad luck Leinster, still it’s good to see Munster got trough.
As a leinster fan I’m sorry to see it happen but it was inevitable after the home Clermont match. In the years we won it we always had a dominating player in the pack – Rocky Elsom, Nathan Hines, Brad Thorn – a guy other teams feared for their physicality and general intensity. These guys were abrasive personalites.
Leo Cullen, while a phenomenal captain, isn’t that sort of player. Devin Toner has no place on a Heineken cup team. He is neither abrasive or talented. The back row and front row, while all physically abrasive, seem not to be thorny individuals. We need someone getting in the face of opponents, on and off the ball. We need someone like the three above, like Dennis Leamy.
I agree for the most part, Cian Healy & Sean O Brien are both mean fookers. I think Leinster need a serious edge in the 2nd row.
Ahhhhh hahahahahaha…I love to see Irish teams doing well but for all the Leinster fans giving Munster fans sh*t over the years…sit on that!
Don’t gloat Thómas, Munster have been there before and will be again. Hard luck to Leinster, tough way to exit the competition. Munster abú.
don’t known any leinster fans that don’t support Munster in the Heineken. Get the chip off your shoulder
There’s no chip on my shoulder. Like I said I always like to see the Irish teams doing well but over the last few years Leinster fans felt the need to have a go at Munster while they were doing well so today I’ll revel in it
I’m sure there is a few idiot Leinster supporters who do give grief Tomás, just as Munster have a few fans like you. Any best of luck Munster and Ulster.
Terrible immature attitude, a man shouldn’t lower himself regardless of what when before. You’re only feeding a cycle of hate.
Sorry Tomas but years of ladyboy crap started all that stuff.
As for yesterday Leinster didn’t qualify because clermont beat us twice not because Munster scored more trys against the second team of 8th best team in France with 14 men.
Tomas when you win the title in Dublin ( and I really hope you do) then gloat all you want because if like last year when we won if you go to France and win a semi final you will deserve to be called the best team in Europe.
Leinster will now have a crack at the Amlin and the rabbo, if we win a title it will be enough to regroup for next year.
Fair play to Simon Zebo yesterday super display and will make the loss of tommy Bowe less hard to take next month.
Hard luck Leinster! Good to have 2 Irish teams still there hopefully if all goes to plan at Welford Road. Munster abu!
I’m all about international rugby, but it’s like a guilty pleasure knocking leinster out of the European cup while qualifying for the quarters.
Hard luck to Leinster and tough way to leave the competition…….
Are they the first champions to go out at pool stage?
Where was this famous strength in depth they always bang on about?
3. 2. Now
3. 2. Next may
Yawn !
Posted on 20/1/2013 is this the Journal’s April’s fool days contribution?