Earls happy to play a supporting role

After a summer of bonding with his young daughter Ella May, Keith Earls will likely pack in some further babysitting duties on Sunday when Limerick take on Clare in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final.

It’s a day for Earls’ partner Edel and her family (McGees) to indulge themselves in their particular sporting passion while the Irish international takes a back seat.

“I’d say she’ll be going up there alright with her family,” he said. “Edel’s family are massive GAA people. She’ll have flags hanging out the bedroom window and the car. I won’t go up but I’m delighted for the lads.”

Down the line, Earls is hoping daughter Ella May takes up sport: “Edel played camogie when she was younger, she actually played primary school camogie for Limerick. Ella has two sports now that she could pick up. Maybe she’ll get the genes from one of us.”

It will be at least another month before Earls is ready to resume his playing career following a shoulder injury and operation that disrupted his plans last season. He’s making progress and is gradually adding contact to his training regime but he’s equally determined to make sure there are no hiccups between now and his return.

“I have about six or seven weeks [training] now under my belt, I’m staying away from contact mainly, easing my way back into it, but have been hitting a few tackle bags now in the last week.”

When he does return he doesn’t care what position he fills and admits he put too much stock on wanting to play centre. Now he would just like to ease demands on himself and take a more relaxed view of the future. “I want to be the best rugby player I can be. It’s six years now talking about positions so I want to put it to bed and let myself get back to playing rugby. In my first season with Munster I had nothing on my mind [only to play rugby] and I ended up scoring something like ten tries. I want to get back to something like that.”