Leinster and Ireland Stalwart Cian Healy Spurned Lucrative Overseas Offers to Remain Loyal
Experienced Leinster and Ireland front-row star Cian Healy has revealed he had the opportunity to leave the province in the past, with “very spicy” overseas offers coming his way. However, the 36-year-old insisted he never had any ambitions of departing Leinster or playing for Ireland elsewhere.
Healy, who recently extended his contract with Leinster by a further year, admitted there were tempting proposals to lure him away from his home province, particularly after a serious injury in 2014/15. Despite the lucrative nature of these overseas offers from clubs in England and France, the rugby union veteran remained steadfast in his commitment to Leinster and the national team.
“There was a couple of very spicy offers back in the day, yeah,” Healy told reporters. “If anything they were just there though, I never wanted to leave. I never had ambitions of not playing for Ireland or Leinster. I knew I wanted to be here and living away from my family and friends doesn’t greatly appeal to me.”
While Healy’s former Leinster and Ireland teammate Jamie Heaslip seriously considered a move abroad, the experienced prop insisted that decision did not sway his own thinking. “Fly by your own wing,” Healy said emphatically.
Focusing on European Glory
Rather than individual accolades, Healy’s primary focus remains on securing Leinster’s first Heineken Champions Cup title since 2018. The province has suffered defeats in the past three European finals, and the serial winner is hungry to add another European crown to his already impressive haul of domestic and continental titles.
“It was nice to receive that,” Healy said, referring to the pitchside presentation honoring his Champions Cup appearance record. “I didn’t expect anything coming. I’d take a medal instead, though.”
With Leinster’s crucial United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster up next, Healy is keeping his eyes firmly on the immediate task at hand, rather than getting carried away by the prospect of European glory. “There’s probably been energy expended in the past in the wrong places and you mess up a different part of your season,” he explained. “So I think it’s important to stay job focused and we go, like, day by day, week by week, is pretty much how it goes in here and it works.”
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