TADHG BEIRNE KICKING a 50:22 in Paris didn’t really come as a huge surprise.
We’ve all got accustomed to these flashes of skill from the Munster forward, who so often delivers game-changing moments for province and country. Ireland were unable to strike from the lineout Beirne earned with his kick down the left-hand side two weekends ago at Stade de France but it was another example of his multi-faceted quality.
“I just put my foot to it and thought if it hit along the ground, it might get out,” says Beirne of that kick just after he had stooped to gather the bobbling ball.
“I didn’t know if it was going to be a 50:22 or if it was going to be outside the 22 but it worked out anyway, which is the main thing, or I might have been getting a bollocking from the lads.
“My first [50:22], definitely. Hopefully not the last. I’ve had a few kicks all right, a few shunts as well!”
Kicking isn’t a core part of Beirne’s job for Ireland but then he is a player who tends to break the mould. He’s a man whose role is wide-ranging and ever-changing.
The 30-year-old is a breakdown specialist, a turnover threat of relentless work-rate. His passing and offloading are strong, so too is his lineout and maul defence. He can carry and tackle with energy, as well as clearing out rucks in attack.
The rounded nature of his game has helped Beirne to become a key figure in this Ireland squad, that status underlined by last weekend’s announcement that Beirne had signed a three-year central contract with the IRFU through to 2025.
Not bad for a fella who nearly quit rugby after being released by his native Leinster in 2016.
“It’s something I definitely wouldn’t have expected at certain times in my career,” says Beirne of his new contract.
“The last two seasons have gone particularly well for me. I’ve always said there’s a lot of luck involved in terms of getting opportunities along the way but I’ve certainly just been prepared for them and thankfully I’ve been able to take them.
“I’ve had an incredible year. It’s been disappointing with some results and that but to get to this point and get a central contract, it was a massive honour and I’m delighted to accept it.”
Beirne has done it the hard way. Having finished up with the Leinster academy in 2015 after an injury-stricken few seasons in which he also worked as a pizza delivery driver, Beirne asked Leinster boss Leo Cullen for another chance and a trial period led to a one-year deal.
However, the Kildare man couldn’t break through and he was close to finishing up with rugby in 2016 before Scarlets came calling, following up on a recommendation from Lansdowne coach Mike Ruddock.
Beirne’s time in Wales started with more injury woe and he even found himself playing semi-professional rugby with Llandovery RFC at one point before things really took off under Wayne Pivac at Scarlets, where he shone in the second row and back row.
“I was at the brink of packing it in and then through my Scarlets career I didn’t know if I would ever come back to Ireland,” says Beirne.
“I suppose things just picked up towards the end of my first year and I kind of kicked on in my second year.
“But I don’t think I ever expected to get into a position that I’m in now where I’ve gone on to play with the Lions and had a good run of games starting for Ireland. And now to get a central contract as well, it’s a massive honour for me and it’s something where I never really thought I’d get to in my career.”
Having won the Pro14 with Scarlets in 2017, Beirne then agreed on a return to Ireland with Munster before making his Test debut under Joe Schmidt on the tour of Australia in the summer of 2018.
Beirne was part of the 2019 World Cup squad but his international career has really taken off under Andy Farrell since, leading on to his 2021 Lions selection.
“I’ve learnt so much in this brand of rugby that Faz is about, it’s quite simple in terms of what he’s asking of us,” says Beirne.
“It makes so much sense, you always feel like you’re involved in everything that is going on on the field which makes it incredibly enjoyable.
“Other types of game plan and that, you come in and out of the game in terms of involvement but what is being asked of us here, I’m involved every single time. It’s definitely some of the most enjoyable rugby I’ve been involved in. “
Beirne keeps on adding strings to his bow, including captaining Munster against Ulster back in January.
Munster senior coach Stephen Larkham recently praised Beirne for his leadership and thirst for improvement.
“I probably wouldn’t lead as well as a lot of the lads, certainly in here or back at Munster,” says Beirne.
“It was a massive honour for me to be asked to captain Munster and I enjoyed it but you know with the likes of Pete [O'Mahony], Jack [O'Donoghue], Earlsy, all of those other boys back in Munster, I think they have a natural ability to lead compared to my type of leadership.
“I probably wouldn’t speak as well as they would but I’d probably try and lead by example than use my words as such.”
Beirne’s actions continue to speak very loudly indeed.
Interesting how everyone writing shamrocks off, all Ireland champs 2 years ago and beaten semi finalists last year. In the year they won it, beat na piarsaigh in the semi so I think they will fancy their chances. Saying that, would love to see na piarsaigh win it
Two very evenly matched semi finals. I’d love to see a Na Piarsaigh v MLR final. Think Na Piarsaigh will win it. Anyone but Portumna. A team who doesn’t have to qualify from its province doesn’t deserve an All Ireland title. Na Piarsaigh and MLR would be more than deserving of winning it considering who they had to beat to get to the semi.
Yeah they only have to qualify out of most competitive county in the country where many of the All Ireland Club Champions have come last 10 years.
Doesn’t matter who they have to beat in the Galway championship. I’m talking about Galway clubs in general.
The exact reason why Galway clubs have a good track record in it is because they walk in to the All Ireland semi finals every year.
Same as minors getting straight through to quarter finals and U21′s getting straight through to All Ireland semi. They all pick up some handy titles and then wonder why the Galway senior team is not successful.
Simple, they have less teams to beat to win All Irelands at every level except senior and they win them at all levels except senior!!!
Sour grapes mike. Portumna one of the best club sides of all time. Going by your logic no team from Galway should be allowed enter the competition.
When portumna were at their best , they would give any of the top team’s in the country a game.
I have nothing to be sour about. Portumna mean nothing to me. I see and hear Galway people moan about their senior team not being able to win anything but they rub their hands with glee when they walk in to the latter stages of most other competitions. It’s more than a coincidence that Galway can win titles at all levels except senior. They have too easy a route in all bar the senior. Galway won’t win a senior All Ireland until they wake up to that fact. They want the senior team in Leinster but are more than happy to have every other grade team and club not as they are winning things. Why don’t they look at the possibility of moving all teams in to Leinster so they can actually see what they are worth and not just be handed byes the whole time while every other team and club have to get through several matches to get to the same stage.
The Galway clubs have to beat provincial and county champs to win an All Ireland Mike, same goes for their minors and U21s, nothing handy about that.
You sound pretty sour to me.
Portumna will win it
Portumna won their titles Mike Neil because they were the best team, to say otherwise is just bloody sour grapes.Same goes for all the clubs who won the All Ireland.
I will be shouting for Portumna but think Na Piarsigh will win out, they have more scoring forwards than anyone else.
It’s not portumna’s fault they go straight into semis. It’s theirs to lose now, should be a handy all-ireland for them now. Although this is a year full of surprises.
Only a fool would write off the Rangers. Have seen off 2 favourites already and didn’t even play well against Outlart.
I know they will still be the underdogs, but they will wear that badge with pride!!!!
Loughgiel shamrocks be very hard to beat they R a good team winning 4 county titles and 4 ustler titles and all Ireland in the last 4 years what more can I say
think you’ll find Eamon that Loughgiel have as good a six forwards as any of the teams left.will take a damned good performance to beat them much better than anything I’ve witnessed on TG4 to date..
I disagree Denis.I have seen Shamrocks 3 times in the last 2 years , they are a fine side but they don’t have forwards of the calibre of Canning, Hayes, Dowling, Hannon or Downes.
Hannon plays for Adare not Na Piarsaigh.
Fair bad support for loughgeil. A club that has been there and done it plus has one of the best hurlers in the country. Would love to see them prove a lot of people wrong again. From a tipp man
As a Birr man, having seen how these All-Ireland’s are won, it’s about getting the most from your forwards. One of the reasons KK did well last year was Slevin the free taker. Similarly Loughgiel have a great full forward, whose name escapes me. Na Piarsaigh have serious forwards and of course Portumna have Joe Canning & Damien Hayes, plus their experience. It’s hard to see past Portumna. Fair play to MLR though – inspirational stuff!