Stringer on new European mission with Bath
He misses the white hot atmosphere which will grip the stadium when Munster take on Toulouse tomorrow.
Across the Irish Sea the now veteran will instead watch the game on television, although with the distraction of knowing he has a personal mission at the Recreation Ground on Sunday when Bath take on Brive in the Amlin Cup quarter-final.
There was a time when the two clubs met in a Heineken Cup final.
Bath won that gripping encounter 19-18 with a late score over then holders Brive in Bordeaux back in 1998. They added an Amlin Cup title in 2008 and now, with a young team bolstered by a few highly experienced players such as Stringer, the Somerset club is pushing on for more glory.
The diminutive scrum-half will always have a special place in his heart for Munster, just as the legions of Munster fans have for him, but Sunday is all about Bath for the 36-year-old, who has just been given a one-year extension to his current contract.
“All I want to do is play,” he said, “my ambition is as strong as ever. I train only to play and here I’m getting the opportunity to play most weeks. I’ve started most games too, but I’m fully behind the rotational policy and the desire and need to bring the young players through.
“Bath is great. It’s a small city and the ground is in the city. There’s huge tradition here. I grew up watching them winning trophies, that’s been gone for a while now but there is a big emphasis on trying to get back to where the club once was and trying to create our own bit of history.”
Both Bath head coach Mike Ford and South African flanker Francois Louw believe Stringer could be central to achieving that.
“Strings brings a lot of experience to our relatively young squad, and his absolute professionalism sets a great example to them,” said Ford.
“He’s not lost any of his enthusiasm or ability, making him a real asset for us, and we’re thrilled he’s agreed to stay for another year.”
Louw paid his own tribute: “Peter’s an amazing player. You don’t play 98 games for Ireland by mistake. But it’s not just about how good he is on the field but also how he is as a mentor to the side and the young guys. I’ve learnt a lot from him. It’s amazing to play with the guy.”
Come tomorrow, Stringer will be sat in front of his TV keeping his fingers crossed for a Munster success in Limerick.
You get the feeling that Munster fans will be doing the same for one of the province’s most revered sons the following day.
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