Propping up Leinster scrum on another derby day

Reggie Corrigan has gone from amateur to professional, from club player to international, but the rivalry between Munster and Leinster is as intense as ever, he tells Charlie Mulqueen.

ASK Reggie Corrigan about his rugby outings down south and he readily admits he finds a greater challenge in Munster than in any other place he has played.

It all began in his amateur days as a prop/second-row with Greystones, in the glory days of the All-Ireland League.

'Stones had a first-class side in the early '90s, especially up front where Corrigan had the Rigney brothers, Brian and Des, Nick Popplewell and John 'Spud' Murphy, at his side.

He recalls with relish the special train packed with 700 excited fans who travelled south for a clash with Shannon a game the visitors won 15-6.

"Then there was the day we played out an epic 3-3 draw with Young Munster at Greenfields," he says.

"We got a real Limerick welcome down there and, of course, we also had some great tussles with Garryowen and Cork Con over the years.

"We were all amateurs at the time and I worked as a rep for a haulage company. However, the game was going professional and the offer of a six-month trial with Leinster came.

"The Celtic Tiger days were still a long way off and nobody gave up a job easily. It wasn't an easy decision but I went for it and it was the best thing I ever did. A year later I was on the bench for Ireland."

Those were the days when the Interprovincial Championship still reigned supreme, before the Heineken Cup. And Munster and Leinster always had a special relationship.

"Gaillimh [Mick Galwey] and the Claw [Peter Clohessy] were always there and they were fairly tough. You always got a warm reception, and there was no mistaking the passion of the fans.

"We were always underdogs when we travelled to Munster and it will be the same tomorrow. The sledging went on all the time and no quarter was given because you were up against guys who would also be playing for the same positions in the Irish team."

Though Munster, Leinster and Ulster became forces on the

European stage, the intensity of derby days never diminished. That was especially the case in the front-row where Corrigan remembers his battles with Peter Clohessy, his brother Des, as well as John 'Pako' Fitzgerald, Paul McCarthy and John Hayes.

Corrigan is a specialist loose head prop and so he knows tomorrow's opponent Hayes (his Irish front-row colleague for several years) better than most.

"We'll be the underdogs as usual because apart from myself, we're a pretty young side," he says.

"Still, we're going very well and have been fairly successful against Munster over the years. But down in Munster, it's always so difficult.

"They play the game their way. They kick to the corners and get the maul going although hopefully we'll have a few tricks."

Corrigan holds 46 Irish caps and says "it would be a dream come true" to reach the half-century. But he also has big ambitions with Leinster.

"Success in Europe is what everybody talks about and undoubtedly it is the big one, but the Celtic League is also very important because it enables you to measure where you are against the other provinces," he says.

"This current Leinster side is still finding its feet. The Heineken Cup is played in two blocs. We met Bourgoin and Bath last year as well and know how tough they are, especially as we're not sure when we'll have Brian O'Driscoll and Malcolm O'Kelly back.

"The fact also that we've had so many coaches over the past few years has caused a lot of frustration among the players. But the good thing this year though is that Michael Cheika is much respected and we're all very happy he's a straight talker. If you are unhappy with anything, he will sit you down and explain the situation."

Corrigan stood down as captain of the Leinster team so that he "could have a greater input on the pitch" without having other considerations to worry about.

And he also wants to have time to work on ideas and things he has in mind for the future.

"Retirement can't be that far away," he says.

"I was discussing this recently with Victor Costello, who hung up his boots at the end of last season, and he said while it was hard to come to terms with at the start, he is now delighted. He's relieved he doesn't have to face any more big games."

That day hasn't arrived yet for Corrigan a fact which will come into sharp focus in the cauldron that is sure to be Musgrave Park tomorrow afternoon.