IT’S COMING UP on seven years since he first arrived on these shores and Quinn Roux has never felt more Irish.
The Connacht lock is now an Irish citizen and, since very recently, the proud holder of a passport bearing a harp and the word Éire.
Roux, a native of South Africa, felt he was accepted by Irish people from his early days here but having the passport makes things a lot easier for him.
“It’s life-changing,” says the 28-year-old, who used his new passport to travel to Scotland with Ireland for their Six Nations game two weekends ago. “It makes a big difference for me and, hopefully, for my kids one day.
“I came over here to play rugby and the opportunity that I have been given is really special and I am hoping to build on that in the next few years.
“I felt that I had been accepted a long time ago but this means… it really just makes travel an awful lot easier because you can’t travel that much on a South African passport.
“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been accepted now just because I’ve got the passport. I felt I had been accepted years ago – here and in the Connacht environment and even when I was at Leinster where I was well looked after as well. I guess I’m a citizen now.”
The citizenship ceremony took place in Killarney in front of a couple of dignitaries, with Roux seeing it as the latest step in the journey since moving to Ireland in 2012.
“It’s just another thing that I’ve been given here of which I’m really proud.”
He and his wife, Rentus, are happily settled in the house they bought last year in Knocknacarra, just outside Salthill, and the second row is delighting in playing under head coach Andy Friend with Connacht.
Having initially broken through as a professional with Western Province and the Stormers – where Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Andries Bekker blocked further progress – Roux signed for Leinster on a one-year deal when Joe Schmidt was still in charge of the province.
There were only 13 appearances in that first year in Ireland, as well as a steep learning curve about life away from home, but Leinster extended Roux’s deal.
“It’s funny, I was still so young and so inexperienced,” he recalls. “I was 21 and I had never been overseas and I got this opportunity when Joe was still the coach there.
“I got ravaged with injuries that year. I still won two trophies at the end of the year, which was really nice, but the trust they put in me when I was injured a lot and offering me another contract showed their loyalty towards me so it was a no-brainer for me.”
Schmidt’s departure for the Ireland job didn’t work out too well for Roux, however, who admits that he “probably didn’t get along that well” with new boss Matt O’Connor and he played only nine times in 2013/14.
The 2014/15 campaign saw Roux shift to Connacht on what was initially a half-season loan that rolled all the way to the end of the season and resulted in him making a permanent move west on a two-year contract.
He helped Connacht to their 2016 Pro12 title under Pat Lam and has enjoyed life with the province ever since, playing superb rugby this season under Friend and extending his contract out to the summer of 2021.
“If I could retire there, it would be good,” says Roux. “I love Galway, my wife loves Galway. The people have been really good to us.
“It’s exciting as well out there because there are a lot of things that are going to come in, and hopefully they can be finished before I retire one day.
“It’s exciting and with Friendy there, he’s been putting a lot of confidence in our players. You can see it’s going really well there. Some of our guys are in top form.”
Roux’s Connacht focus is on hold for now as he concentrates on taking his opportunities with Ireland in the Six Nations.
His debut in green came on the 2016 tour to South Africa and his 10th cap was earned in the starting team against Scotland in the second round of this Six Nations, when Roux impressed in the second row, calling a lineout that delivered a 100% return.
He wasn’t actually named in Ireland’s initial squad for the championship, but injuries to Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson opened the door and after making an impact off the bench against England, he shone versus Scotland.
Roux’s work-rate at the ruck was, typically, team-leading as he arrived at 54 Ireland rucks and also provided the highest number of clearouts with 25.
“It’s not the prettiest thing to look at – people hitting rucks – so that’s not going to get the attention that a really good ball carrier or a really good poacher over the ball is going to get,” says Roux.
“I guess it’s all about the people in the environment who you work with that really appreciate that. And that’s all that really matters.
“It’s the dirty work and someone needs to do it. I kinda take pride in doing that and it’s good to see that some people noticed it on the weekend.”
Ever the perfectionist, Roux picked out plenty of Irish rucks where he could have made a greater impact and he will hope to be even better against Italy in Rome this weekend.
There are, of course, drawbacks to having uprooted from South Africa to make Ireland his home, but Roux says it’s all worthwhile.
“I’ve never played a game that my parents have seen in Ireland,” says Roux. “It’s tough when the team gets named later in the week. I think they were over for one November series when I wasn’t in the squad.
“That’s when I ended up playing for the Barbarians against Tonga in Thomond Park [in 2017], so that was nice.
“That is one tough thing – seeing my parents once, twice a year, if I’m lucky. That is one of the sacrifices you have to make when you move away. It’s tough not seeing them.
“But we found a home here and we have to do the best we can.”
– First published 01.01, 21 February
Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look ahead to Ireland’s Six Nations meeting with Italy and discuss the week’s biggest stories in the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly.
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He’s an Irish naturalized citizen . Fair play to him. As for the earlier comment about debates re nationality I think that’s irrelevant as this debate is usually confined to the granny rule etc. In this case he’s been naturalized. He done it all on his own . No granny involved. I’m about to become naturalized in another country . Will be a a big day for me. This guy is as Irish as anybody else. By merit.
@Ronan McDermott: oh no he’s not
@Bungee Aky: oh yes he is
@Bungee Aky: ohh no he’s not
@Bungee Aky: ohhhh yes he is
@Ronan McDermott: yep, were a transient race is humans, nationality is just an accident of birth. Personally there’s a dozen or more countries I’d proudly take citizenship of alongside my own. I’d be very surprised if Bundee hasn’t taken out Irish citizenship in the next year or two also for his family. They’ve both found a home out Wesht. Not saying either will stay forever, the pull of family as parents get older can change things, but these guys invested a huge amount coming to Ireland and making the commitments they have….
@Ronan McDermott: he’s been clearlyvfast tracked so he can put on a green jersey
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: You don’t need to be a citizen to play rugby for a country. He’s been here long enough to meet the minimum residency requiements for both. Will his public profile have swayed the discretionary aspect of approval for citizenship? I imagine so, but he’s Ireland qualified and committed for international rugby regardless already.
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: Hardly been fast tracked when he’s lived here for almost 7 years and you only need 5 to apply for citizenship.
@Sam Harms: 3 at the time
@Eoin Murphy: To be eligible to play for Ireland 3 years. To become an Irish citizen is 5 years.
@Ronan McDermott: he’s not as Irish as me
Here we go, another mindless debate about foreign players playing for Ireland. 200 comments about CJ stander, Aki, project players, soccer, how someone’s granny should be from sixmilebridge for them to wear the green jersey, mercenaries and a load more
bollocks from people showing their IQ is a fraction of their age.
@Bungee Aky: Get the popcorn out lad
@Bungee Aky: you’re spot on. It’s beyond boring at this stage.
@Bungee Aky: wheres the Norwegian lad who likes a good moan on here about the forrignns (or is it only the non-white ones that are his speciality). Do you have to say his name three times or something? :-D
Listen, these guys can come and go as they please, it’s just an opinion….I live(d) near richart Strauss and he was a really good example of the minute he finished with Leinster and Ireland his house was for sale and he had gone back to his family farmin SA…. in fairness that’s his right and Irish people have lived all over the world and come home… difference is these guys are saying they are Irish…. just sticks in the craw a bit
@Davedental: He is Irish and he has a passport to prove it. Why do people gripe about them leaving the country after their career but have no issue with a guy who qualifies via parents/grandparents doing the same? There are a host of guys who’ve turned out for Ireland historically who never lived in Ireland and flew in for training/matches and were in the first flight back out. These lads come here set down roots and become part of their communities. Some like Jared Payne marry locals, many have kids who are born here and some stay. Andy Ward has been here almost 30 years now. It’s not just a case of packing up shop the second their career is over and get straight out of town
I hope Neil Francis gets off his case now.
@Pat Lonergan: i don’t know anyone that gives a damn what Neil Francis thinks. I’m sure it won’t bother him.
Excellent to see this guy is now just as Irish as me. He is certainly more Irish than those pesky soccer players with Irish grandparents(they should have no right to play for Ireland!). I hope the IRFU continue to buy in more players like this in the transfer market! Sure nationality is a myth anyways hohoho.
@Stephen Walsh: I’d say he’s more Irish than you
@Stephen Walsh: if nationality is a myth why do care then? Think we need stricter criteria to gain Irish citizenship like the American or British system. Should definitely be a rigorous test to see how much the applicant cares about Irish culture and values. Remember the ex British diplomat recently crowing about how he was getting an Irish passport post Brexit so he could avoid potential airport queues in Italy when visiting his holiday home?
@Valthebear: so it’s clear you know nothing about the process.
1. Him becoming an Irish citizen and him becoming eligible to play for Ireland are totally unrelated as is proven by the timing and also the sequence of both happening.
2. What is overlooked in this comments section is what a great player he is for both Connacht and Ireland. He has come on significantly in the last couple of years, especially in terms of his discipline
If he’s still in Galway in 10 years time with his wife ( ironically From SA too) and kids running around living a normal life I would be delighted… same goes for all the naturalised Irish players…..I reckon the minute they retire they will all be back “home” though…. that is the crock of sh*t… very few actuallly stay post retirement….Doug howlett and he wasn’t even Irish!
@Davedental: Tribal thinking ,every day I meet people that worked the best part ok their in England and retired home now collecting the Queens shilling that they worked for and are entitled to .that’s life
@FlopFlipU: part of their lives
@Davedental: I stand to be corrected but I believe that a South African must give up his citizenship at “home” if he takes up another nationality. Big step, big commitment
@Tony Harris: You can have dual citizenship in SA but have to apply for it before being granted your second citizenship
@Davedental: Is Doug Howlett still in Limerick?!
@Davedental: why is it ironic that his wife is from South Africa too?
@Californialov3: He was in the Cork hurling dougout last weekend
@Davedental: he literally said he hopes to retire to Galway. He didn’t need to take Irish citizenship, it doesn’t affect his ugly For Connacht or Ireland, but he has. That shows commitment beyond his job.
If he changes his name to Rous Quinn he would sound a bit more Irish.
He is not Irish an never will be and most probably would never had come to Ireland if he wasn’t a professional rugby union player and money was involved and that goes for Stander, Aki etc. they should change the rule to be eligible to play for Ireland if descended from parents only at an absolute minimum and in the meantime these guys are taking the place of real Irishmen on the Ireland squad and team and it should not be facilitated cos that green jersey is a sacred jersey of monumental national pride and respect in any and every sporting code.
Dan Parks still one of my favorite scots men from the highlands
just wondering — did he have to go through the usual channels and pay the usual fees to get his citizenship ? how come the ceremony was ‘conducted in killarney in front of a couple of officials ” i thought the rules were that you had to attend the citizenship ceremony at the aras in dublin or you would not get your certificate of citizenship and therefore would not be allowed a passport ..
@Eric Davies: Of course he had to go through all the usual channels and pay the usual fees. And the ceremonies take place across the country. The ones in Dublin are mainly in the convention centre but I’m sure there’s ones for VIP’s in Dublin Castle/the Aras.
@Eddie Hekenui: thanks eddie — heard something on the radio yesterday and it made it sound as if he had been given preferential treatment due to his rugby — every article i have seen on citizenship ceramonies have only ever mentioned dublin – good luck to the fella and his family .
@Eric Davies: As of last year all citizenship ceremonies that used to take place in the Dublin Convention Centre now take place in the Killarney Convention Centre