Six Nations 2021 Team of the Championship

15 Stuart Hogg

14 Louis Rees Zammit

13 Gael Fickou

12 Robbie Henshaw

11 Josh Adams

10 Dan Biggar

9 Gareth Davies

8 Toby Faletau

7 Hamish Watson

6 Tadgh Beirne

5 Alun Wyn Jones

4 Bernard Le Roux

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Ken Owens

1 Wyn Jones

This is my 6 Nations team of 2021, huge congratulations to champions Wales and to Scotland who won in Paris for the 1st time since winning the Championship in 1999…

The Head , My Battle

I have been thinking of writing about what depression has done to me over the last 17 years. I write this now as I feel bar the odd day and moment I am finally in a position to sit in front of a computer and write what depression did to me and how it impacted on me.

I spent many years hiding my feelings and trying to work my way through things without looking for support and then when I needed support without asking I got the support that I needed in the form of maternal instinct and a phone call.

It was amazing on that evening I remember clearly being asked was I ok and saying I was “grand” and then within a hour of that I was writing letters to groups of friends and family saying “goodbye” to them only for a phone call to interrupt my train of thought and then my Mam’s plan of action saved me so although she didn’t stop me from leaving the house that evening she knew what to do to make sure no harm came to me that evening, amazing what maternal instinct will do….

Spending so many years not feeling like I wasn’t worthy of a place on earth was extremely tough and having to smile for so long was torture when inside I was screaming with anger and frustration on many occasions was very hard on on people around me.

I didn’t deal with the deaths of my grandparents in 2011 and 2014 very well and that contributed massively to the spot I found myself in 2014. I know I always go back to that night in March 2014 because I have never experienced hopelessness like it before or since…

Then fast forward 2 a half years to 2016 and bang the shit hits the fan in a big way and the woman who helped save me in March 2014, passes away suddenly and I am back in the same head space I was in 2011 and 2014.

But from somewhere I found the strength to carry on a look out for others and put my own personal grief to one side. For 4 days I spent my days speaking to others and helping them assess what happened that evening. Since then I have an inner strength I never knew I could have access to and it has helped me kick on and make some key decisions about my life.

I have a better understanding of grief now and over the past 13 months since life as we knew it has ground to a halt due to Covid 19 and ongoing restrictions. This period has been so tough on so many and we are being told constantly to “hold firm”. There are brighter days ahead !!

I am writing about my own battle as I can only truly speak of my own experience and sincerely hope my few words can show those who currently feel like they have nowhere to turn that there is support out there, either through professionals, family or friends…

Having done the Ohana 20 minute course this has also given me a better understanding of the warning sides that impacted myself and some other aspects that never entered my mind.

What I am getting at by writing this is that if people are finding it tough at the moment, here is one major thing that has helped me, I have found writing feelings down was a big help to get the feelings down on paper and out of my head and mind….

I can say that after 17 years of feeling like I owed it to people to constantly prove myself that the time has come to look after myself and stop trying to constantly prove myself !!

CJ Stander Tribute

Maybe 3 or so years before I even thought I would writing a tribute to CJ Stander here I am, he has just announced his retirement from professional rugby when his current contract ends in June. He has made the decision to return to South Africa for personal reasons.

He has played over 150 times for Munster and will most likely win cap number 51 against England in Dublin this Saturday in the 6 Nations. He toured with the Lions in 2017 in New Zealand and was part of the squad in the drawn series.

He joined Munster back in 2012 aged 22, scoring a cracking try vs Glasgow in Limerick in the Pro 12 as it was then to really announce himself to the Munster faithful and has done every time he has pulled on the Munster shirt, Irish jersey and the Lions shirt in 2017.

He has shown incredible durability in the 9 years since he joined and has rarely not been involved in Munster squads since fully establishing himself when James Coughlan left to go to France.

He has played number 8 and also at Blindside Flanker number 6. The same consistency of selection has happened at national level with Ireland since his 1st cap in 2016. He has been a real leader for Munster and Ireland and has lead from the front for both teams in the past 9 years.

He can look back at his time in Ireland will real satisfaction and genuine fondness… He still has 3 months to go before he departs for South Africa. He will face Leinster in the RDS in another Pro 14 Final and then play Toulouse on April 3rd in Thomond Park in the last 16 of the Champions Cup injury permitting of course.

Time now to focus on England this weekend and then Leinster in the Pro 14 Final… Some big games ahead for CJ and his team mates…

Just a word to CJ and his family. I was fortunate to speak to Jean Marie CJ’s wife in 2016 about her own sporting career, her move to Limerick with CJ and more… Thanks to CJ for all the memories and let’s hope there is more to come before CJ departs the scene in June….