Horgan enjoying Indian summer

LAST night’s New Year’s Eve bash at the Anthony Horgan household was due to double as a leaving do.

Instead, the Munster and Ireland winger has been handed a six month-contract extension, and he’s refusing to contemplate retirement either.

The 32-year-old Horgan has seven international caps and 56 Heineken Cup appearances to his credit. Not bad for a guy who barely thought of ending up in the professional ranks over a decade ago.

He takes up the story: “It was in 1997 when I was approached to sign for Munster. I wasn’t doing much at the time, dossing (doing nothing) a bit on a third level course in the College of Commerce; it seemed a good option, getting paid for doing what I would normally have been doing in my spare time at weekends with Cork Con.

“It was professional, but not fully professional; we had a game every week and a couple of training sessions, plus some hours in the gym. Back then, I figure, nobody knew exactly what was required to get out of all that work in the gym; it’s certainly not like that today.”

But Horgan wasn’t long in taking to the new lifestyle. “Things changed quickly enough, probably within 12 months, and before we knew it we found ourselves in a Heineken Cup final in 2000.

“We had our first away win in 1999 against Padova and then won on the road against Colomiers. That was a major breakthrough and it proved crucial in getting us to the final.”

Reflecting on a career that would never have happened in a different era, Horgan now has two Heineken Cup medals, and he hopes to garner another by breaking into the team at some stage of the campaign.

Horgan was bitterly disappointed to lose in Munster’s inaugural appearance in the 2000 Twickenham decider against Northampton. He missed the 2002 final against Leicester, having broken a bone in his hand two days before the game at the Millennium Stadium, but finally won his first medal in 2006 at the same venue.

Ironically, his appearance in the final came as a result of an injury to Barry Murphy. John Kelly moved to centre where he partnered Trevor Halstead and Horgan kept his place in the team after a semi-final recall against Leinster.

Horgan guaranteed a second medal by playing in the opening tie against Wasps, one which was deserved after his 11 years in Munster rugby.

Looking back, he has no obvious regrets, although the loss to Northampton was a low point. “We can look back on that game and draw just one conclusion: that we let it slide.

“Maybe it had something to do with the build-up. We had a meeting the night before and it was pretty tense and emotional; lots of guys were mentally drained after it. It felt like we were playing a match before a match, I doubt we’ll ever do that again.”

Horgan may have been given a new contract, but it’s short-term and by no means is there a guarantee that it will be extended.

He remains pragmatic: “I was happy to get an extension. I don’t know what the future holds, but I still don’t feel it’s time to retire. I wouldn’t have taken up the offer of a contract if I didn’t feel I had something to offer.

“OK, I’m not necessarily in the front line but I’m enjoying my rugby when I get game time.

“Two or three years ago I’d get ratty and negative about it. I don’t have issues in that way now; the two boys, Dougie (Howlett) and Dowls (Ian Dowling) are playing superbly, their form merits inclusion. I can only get on with what is required of me, train as well as I can and take an opportunity if it comes my way.”