Munster star Hurley proud of his Rebel roots

DENIS HURLEY jokingly claims to have a Cork accent. True, he was born in Ballineen, West Cork, but the family emigrated to the US when he was little more than 12 months old and when they returned to this country four years later, his father’s work took the family to Co Meath and a new home in Kells.

And even when he next arrived in Munster, it wasn’t to Cork he came but as a repeat final year student at St Munchin’s College, Limerick.

After that, though, it was on to UCC and a chance to brush up on his ‘Corkness’. And yet, even though he spent most of his youth in Meath, his father saw to it that his heart and mind should rest not in Leinster but in the province of his birth. And perfectly understandably, too, given that dad Gerry was an outstanding forward in his own playing days and as a member of Sunday’s Well, was the substitute hooker in the Munster team that beat the All Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978.

“I was never a blue supporter, I was always red,” Denis smiles. “We lived in Meath but we would have taken a lot of trips down south to watch matches. I don’t think we ever went to Dublin to watch a Leinster match unless Munster were playing them. I would always, through my father, have been a proud supporter of Munster. Watching and going to matches was something I always enjoyed.”

Even when it came to Gaelic football, Hurley’s heart was elsewhere: “I didn’t support Meath, it was always Cork.”

He reckons he began playing rugby around the age of five in Navan and has been playing ever since. At St Munchin’s, he enjoyed the cut and thrust of schools rugby. He preferred the idea of completing that final year in a Munster environment and hoped to be on a Munchin’s team that retained the Senior Cup. That didn’t work out but from there it was on to UCC and the return to his roots.

“I was with their U20s and we had a pretty good side and won the All-Ireland that year,” Denis recalls.

“Things picked up from there. I made it into the senior squad towards the end of that season and for the following two years and made it into the Munster Academy. I have been in Cork about six years now. There was that year in St Munchin’s, so I have been away from Meath about seven years, hence the Cork accent.”

And so to the next big clash of Munster and Leinster at the RDS on Saturday night. “I have only started in two previous games against Leinster, both in the RDS and we lost both times. I know how hard it is up there. This weekend we have to go in with a positive frame of mind that we have every chance to display what we can do on a rugby field.”

Munster coach Tony McGahan openly stated this week that the mental approach of his players going into the game will have a huge bearing on the outcome. There is general agreement that spirits were low after the performance against Biarritz in the Heineken Cup but they have picked up after a much-improved display, even in defeat, in Cardiff on Sunday.

“We are pretty optimistic ahead of this game,” says Hurley. “I suppose a lot of the minds were a bit down last week. But we are refreshed by the fact that we have made the Magners League semi-final and we are glad to have the opportunity to play Leinster again. We haven’t really performed to the level we would want against the home provinces. This is an opportunity to put some of that to bed.

“We haven’t been on the front foot of them lately. From game to game when we do play them, anything can happen. That is how we have to approach this one.

“I played 15 in my first game up there and my opposite number the last time on the wing was Shane Horgan. He is a good player, one of the few wingers I come up against who is bigger than me. It is also enjoyable playing against a player like that. It is a little bit easier as maybe he is not as nimble and agile (as smaller guys). We have our own bit of a battle.”

Hurley has alternated between wing and full-back for most of his career but insists: “I have no preference. This is my first full season playing as a winger and I am enjoying it. I still love playing at 15 as well. I just enjoy a bit of freedom.”

Long-term injuries are the affliction of almost every rugby player and Hurley is no exception. He has missed much of the past season because of problems with both legs but given the difficulties experienced by Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling and Keith Earls, Munster are mightily relieved that right now he is 100%.

“The injury I had last season latched on to my other leg this year which was a pity,” he laments.

“The timing of it was good, in a way, it was during the Six Nations, so there weren’t too many games. It gave me a chance to get back in. There were a lot of injuries throughout the squad for me to get a chance to play in the semi-final. At least I have kept my form up, I hope.”

A big game could result in even greater things with Declan Kidney set to announce his squad on Monday for next month’s trip to New Zealand and Australia. It was Kidney who gave Hurley his big chance for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Gloucester in 2008, one he gratefully took on his way to picking up a winner’s medal a few weeks later. He’s aware of the possibilities but right now they are at the back of his mind.

“Selection is out of my hands,” he maintains. “I am lucky to be back playing. If the coaches bring me I will be delighted.”