Browne is the powerhouse in Connacht engine-room
But there is another talent worth discussing. One who is even younger, even bigger but filled with the same burning ambition.
Meet 23-year-old 6’6” 19st 11lbs Damien Browne, one of the prime movers in Connacht’s recent spectacular ascent to rugby’s upper echelon’s.
One of these fine days, this giant will be joining his two contemporaries, in that Irish set-up.
“I’m a couple of steps behind them at the moment,” he candidly admits, “but I’m trying to develop my game to get to that level and push for one of those places. I never see anything as a foregone conclusion. I just aim to keep developing, get better and hopefully squeeze in there somewhere.”
One of the many reasons for Connacht’s superb season to date has been Damien’s powerhouse performances in the engine-room.
Through their impressive Celtic Cup run, their fantastic progress in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and even in their occasionally less-than-impressive Celtic League form, Browne has been outstanding for Connacht.
So impressive that one of the top Premiership sides came a-calling, with an offer Damien could not refuse.
“I’m heading to Northampton,” he admits. “They expressed an interest in me, I had a look at their set-up, spoke to their coaches, was very impressed with it all. Hopefully now it will go well for me.”
The move is no reflection on Connacht, there is no rancour, no fallout, no bitterness. Far from it, in fact.
“I’m 23, have been involved with Connacht for the last five years, played for the last four winning nearly 60 caps. I’ve lived in Galway all my life but apart from family, I’ve nothing really to tie me down here.
“It’s time for a bit of a change to spread the wings and get away for a while. I’m a Connacht-man through and through and I will always follow them. They’ll be the first team I look up, see how they’re doing, and if we go on to win this Cup, qualify for the Heineken Cup next year, of course there will be some regrets. But sure, what can you do about it now?
To get a little closer to that Heineken Cup berth they must first overturn a nine point differential in the second leg of their Parker Pen semi-final against Harlequins on Sunday.
“When I woke up this morning, it was lashing; something like that now is what we need for Sunday. Just something to let Harlequins know it’s not the Stoop.
“Have them look around at the greyhound track wondering, where have we come to? Six or seven thousand mad Galway-men, Connacht-men, shouting at them. That’ll do. They play a different style of rugby to the French sides we beat. They are very skillful while the French are more hard-nosed.
“We’ll have to take them on up front, hopefully squeeze them a bit with our maul. That’s been one of our pluses this year, obviously we’ll be looking to that again to bring us forward, it’s something we pride ourselves on.”
A native Galwegian, he lived just around the corner from their grounds, Damien is more aware than most of his erstwhile team-mates just how far Connacht have come, in a very short period, and how much success on Sunday would mean.
“I remember Dad used to bring me to the odd Connacht match, when there was a touring side around, that was all I really knew about it until I came up through the school. There was a little bit of talk about Connacht, but there was no real buzz about it.
“Now, it’s totally different, you see all the Connacht jerseys around, get big crowds at the matches, a much higher profile for rugby in Galway and around the province.
“When I started with Galwegians, up through the ranks of underage, especially at 16’s and 18, we struggled to get the numbers to training. Now they’re very strong at those age-groups they’ve put a lot of time and effort into it, and a lot more kids are playing. It is a big change.”
A change which will become a whole lot bigger with another win on Sunday.
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