Chris Farrell has hailed his return to Irish rugby with Munster as the reason behind his emergence with the national side.
The former Ulster man put in a man of the match performance in Ireland’s 37-27 Six Nations Championship victory over their Welsh counterparts. It was Farrell’s first competitive Six Nations start.
The Belfast native spent three seasons with French club Grenoble before returning to Ireland, to play for Munster at the start of the current season. Farrell says the main reason behind his return was the lure of playing for the Irish provincial side. The 6”4 centre says it’s been a massive honour to join a team with such a distinct history.
“It has, look, it’s fantastic. Just to come back to Munster, firstly and fore mostly is what I was doing, I was coming back to play for Munster. The team that it is, and the history that they have, it was such an honour for me. And obviously what’s come on the back of this is such a bonus,’ Farrell said.
Farrell made his first Championship start in place of the injured Robbie Henshaw, and says he needed no motivation ahead of his Six Nations birth.
Farrell cited the history of the position, and the players who had previously dawned the Ireland #13 shirt, as the only source needed for motivation to meet such big expectations.
“I don’t think it needs to be said, what’s expected when you wear a number thirteen jersey with Ireland because of who’s been there before and what they’ve done. From Gary, Robbie and Brian O’Driscoll, before that - They’ve all been unbelievable!“
Ireland welcome Scotland to Dublin in two weeks time, ahead of a potential Grand slam showdown against England on St. Patrick's day in London.
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