Hagan: Exit to Exiles was tough

Jamie Hagan pauses for more than five seconds, considering his answer to the question: ‘Was Michael Bent’s arrival a kick in the teeth?’

He is on Ireland duty and, although the New Zealander signing for Leinster and being capped within weeks of arriving was the main reason for his departure to London Irish, he is trying to be diplomatic. It’s not easy.

Hagan likes Bent, it is nothing personal — after all he qualifies to play for Ireland.

But, having now supplanted his rival in the province’s matchday squad for both of their finals last month and with Ireland in Texas, his reflections are more than a little bittersweet.

He moves to London at the end of the summer for a new start having finally made his mark at his home town club, just too late to earn a secure future there. It is a regret, but now that he has finally made it into an Ireland squad he wants to win his first cap and stay in the set-up.

“It was tough, obviously, when he (Bent) arrived. It was a tough pill to swallow,” Hagan said.

“The opportunity arose to go to London and I took it. Their coaching staff were very keen on me. I had a couple of discussions with Joe and the staff at Leinster and they were more than happy to let me leave. My decision was made for me.”

Hagan left the RDS in tears after the win over Ulster last month. After a frustrating second spell with Leinster, it was a good way to bow out.

“In both finals it was very emotional. That time last year I was walking around the stadium in a suit. This time I was on the field, albeit for 20 minutes in the first one and five in the second one. Still, it was great to be on the pitch after a year of hardship to be there,” he explained.

“It got a bit emotional, the fans in Leinster — I’ve come to know them and they have come to know me and they are great people. It’s my home province, my home town. It’s hard. It is hard. It is a nice memory to have.”

When he was told his services were no longer required, Hagan could have downed tools and signed off. A three-year deal and security awaited him at the Madejski Stadium and Brian Smith was talking him up as a future Ireland tighthead.

Instead, he knuckled down and showed Leinster what they would be missing.

“I never wanted to go through the motions, no matter where I go. You can’t be like that. Some players probably would say, ‘I’m leaving, have a three year contract, I’ll just take my foot off the pedal’,” he said.

“I’ve been in that situation, when I was leaving Connacht I had a three year deal with Leinster and I rested on my laurels a little bit.

“It is a hard lesson to learn, but I had to learn the hard way. I don’t want to go back to that. I’ll always stay on top of my conditioning, it was a hard learning curve but it was definitely a learning curve.”

Joe Schmidt arrives in Houston on Friday ahead of Saturday’s clash with the US Eagles.

Hagan wants to impress as much as possible because he knows full well that, while playing in England may enhance his game, it will hardly do wonders for his international prospects, even if another departing Leinster man will be picked from France.

“Jonny’s an established international, going on the Lions tour, it’s a bit of a different scenario,” he said. “I’d like to think that they’ll be looking at me, I have to impress on this tour for them to keep looking at me. I have to play, if you’re on the bench you’re seen as a bit of journeyman.”