Page 23 - Crusaders v The Lions

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 23
PROFILE
From growing up on a a a a a farm in in in south-east Ireland to beating the the All Blacks and and now taking on on the the British & Irish Lions Tadhg Furlong’s rise to to the top of world rugby has been swift – and he’s still only 24 WORDS: TOM ENGLISH
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT IT WAS ONLY
this time last year on on the the Irish tour to to South Africa that Tadhg Furlong the the the Leinster Ireland and and Lions tighthead prop started his his rst Test match for his country To further illustrate how thunderous his his arrival on the the the big stage has been Ireland’s seismic win over the the the the All Blacks in in in in Chicago in in in in November was was only his his second start in in in in the the green jersey and it wasn’t until February of this year that he he he managed his his his rst start in in the Six Nations Such has been been his his his impact that you’d think he’s been been around for much longer than he he he he has has But at at 24 and and with just 16 Ireland caps to his his name he he he still has has all all his best years ahead of him Furlong is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dynamic presence a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ball-carrier a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a big tackler an engine that never seems to to to quit He He is is also as as down-to- earth as as you’re ever ever likely to to to to get He He comes from farming stock – a a a a a a a a a small rural village called Campile in in in County Wexford two hours south of Dublin Like Like his his his father James James before him he’s a a a a a a prop Like Like James James he he he he he he began his his his rugby with the the the local local club New Ross where his his his passion for the the game grew grew and grew grew watching local local legends whose names names or or nicknames – – Buddah Softie Richie Bolger Mick Coady – – – might mean mean nothing to to most of of us but mean mean everything to to to him Unlike James – – – in in in in fact unlike any other player in in in in the the the the history of of the the the the club – – – he he he he he became a a a a a a a a a a a a professional That was his his original claim to to to fame – – the the the rst pro pro rugby rugby player to to to to have ever come out of New New Ross Ross rugby rugby club Then Then he he he he he he added to to to it it – – the the rst rst rst New New New Ross Ross man to to to play play for Leinster’s rst rst rst team Then Then he he he he he he he he layered it it on – – – the the the the rst rst rst New New Ross Ross man man to to play play for for Ireland And now the the the the ultimate – – the the the the rst rst rst New New Ross Ross man man to to to play play for for the Lions “It’s incredibly exciting to to be in in in in in New New Zealand and and and playing and and and watching these Super Rugby sides that I’ve only ever seen on on on on television before ” Furlong says “Brilliant teams brilliant brilliant players brilliant brilliant rugby country I I never imagined it would turn out this way for me I I was brought up in in in the the the club watching the the the the rst team play on Sundays and then after games while all all all the the the the adults were in in in in in having a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few pints all all all of us kids would be be on on the the pitch throwing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ball around It never dawned on on me that I I I I might be be be be able to make a a a a a a a a a a a a job out of it it it it it I I I I just did did it it it it because because my father did did it it it it and because because I I I enjoyed it it it it ” THE NEW PROP STAR