At 32 years old in June, Robbie Henshaw’s stay with Leinster and Ireland will keep him local until 2027. Despite previous interests from abroad, particularly France, the Irish centre is just fine with staying where he is. Ireland have unfinished business at the next World Cup and Leinster are still chasing that fifth European star.
“It was kinda down to how performance was going for me and where I stood within the team and how I was getting on within the team,” he says. “There were a few offers but it was easy for me to stay.”
With 77 Irish caps, it is not out of the question that Henshaw will join the centurion club and reach the 100-cap mark if his body stays healthy but with Leinster travelling to Munster for Friday’s game in the United Rugby Championship (URC), the spectre of Thomond Park and maybe a boozy crowd is the immediate challenge.
Henshaw has not played at the ground for a few years and with Jordie Barrett parachuting into the Leinster eco system saying that his favourite position is inside centre, there is more for Henshaw to consider than blindly signing up.
Like Barrett, Henshaw is not confined to one specialist position but, as he speaks it, like other top players he wants to be in the top environment with game time and that’s what he has achieved over the last few years.
“We’ve a world-class player and coming in and he has brought serious value to the team,” he says. “You see from his football he has come on immediately, he’s been brilliant so it will hopefully raise my game and make Leinster stronger.”
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Indeed, Barrett was one of the better players in Aviva Stadium when Connacht gave them a second-half fright before sealing the deal.
Henshaw’s attitude is the way most players who are ambitious see it, although the caveat is that those coming into Leinster cannot consume all the pitch time. That wouldn’t be good for business, although the players chasing Henshaw’s place might see it differently, especially when Irish camp kicks in before the Six Nations Championship begins in February.
“The goal for me I suppose stay at home for as long as I can and play while the body is good,” he says. “Speaking to older players who have retired you come make a decision when you know when your body is done. As long as I’m in good form I suppose I always want to be involved.”
What Henshaw’s contract has done is to allow him set future targets. The European Champions Cup is always a yearly ambition, but the 11th edition of the World Cup in Australia 2027 is a realistic twilight side of career motivation to keep in mind.
“Yeah obviously, he says. “It’s something every player wants to be involved in. It’s a long way away from me but yeah if I can stay fit and keep playing good rugby I can see why I that is a goal ... It will definitely be in the list of goals.
“I think that’s the way we are driven as players and being in the High Performance environment, how quickly you have to change week to week, a new challenge every week but also I suppose a goal at the end of the year and to win trophies. In Leinster it is chasing the fifth star and that’s priority for us. We’ve always been so driven and me personally, I’m driven to achieve those goals.”
On team news, Ireland international back Jamie Osborne has returned to full training and is available for selection for the meeting against Munster in the URC at Thomond Park on Friday (KO 7.35pm). The versatile back has been missing since a groin injury sustained in the Autumn Nations Series with Ireland.
Jordan Larmour and Tommy O’Brien are also expected to be available after missing the match day squad as a precaution last week. Further assessments are required for Max Deegan (after Graduated Return to Play protocols) and last weeks’ captain in Aviva, Jack Conan, who was withdrawn as a precaution. The Leinster team will be announced on St Stephen’s Day at midday.
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