Rhys Ruddock moving up in Leinster back row ranks

The last time Rhys Ruddock’s contract came up for discussion there was talk of a move to Munster but the Leinster back row has nipped any similar speculation in the bud by nailing his colours to his current club’s mast.

“I love playing at Leinster,” said Ruddock, who is negotiating an extension to a two-year deal with the province which expires this summer.

“Once you are playing rugby you are going to be delighted to be with a club like Leinster.”

Ah yes, game time. At 23, Ruddock is of an age where he craves it more and more and for a few seasons it was all he ever seemed to be asked about when on media duties.

Not this year. At his present rate, Ruddock is on course to surpass the 21 appearances he made two seasons ago and he has already featured in more Heineken Cup campaigns than any other year with Christmas just gone.

So central he been this season, featuring in 13 of Leinster’s 16 fixtures, that he sat out training on Monday due to a calf strain which has been put down to the recent workload. A welcome injury then, if ever there was one.

“It’s been really good. I have been enjoying the season but you have to look at yourself as well and, as I said before, I thought I always got a fair opportunity. This year I have just managed to be a bit more consistent in my performances.”

As ever, international fixtures and injuries have dictated matters as much as form and it will be instructive to see where Ruddock sits in the overall scheme of things with Kevin McLaughlin on the path back to full fitness.

With Jordi Murphy and Dominic Ryan also looking to break into the big time on a regular basis, and Jamie Heaslip and Shane Jennings still in situ, Leinster are still spoiled for choice despite Sean O’Brien’s injury.

“Whenever anyone steps in, whether it is Kevin, Seanie, Dominic or Jordi, they have all played well. It is just a case of getting that run of games. Whether it is through injury or missing out it can all change in a week or two.

“I am well aware of that. I am not saying I am number one or anything like that. I am just happy I am playing so we’ll wait and see who is picked this weekend (against Castres) and I am sure whoever is picked will do a massive job in a big game for us.”

For Matt O’Connor, the job of selecting that unit on a game by game basis is helped and, at the same time, complicated by the fact that so many of them can switch between six, seven and eight. The St Mary’s clubman has worn all those shirts for the province in recent years and, though he has made a concerted bid to concentrate on blindside duties, he would have no issue with being handed postings anywhere along the line.

Similarly with Jordi Murphy, whose back-to-back man-of-the-match performances against Ulster and Connacht at No.8 and openside have fostered suggestions he could fill O’Brien’s green jersey just as he has his blue one.

“Jordi has proven you can put him anywhere in the back row and he’ll do a good job,” said Ruddock. “He performed at seven on the weekend and he was strong and showed some of the characteristics you see from Seanie.”