Pat Lam: We did all we could to keep Robbie Henshaw

And so the saga has come to an end.

Robbie Henshaw has inked a deal to take him to Leinster and will soon say farewell to the province that has been his home for the past four years since he joined the Connacht Academy in 2012.

Since then his progress has been phenomenal, catapulting the tyro onto the international stage with eye catching performances which has led to an ever growing line of suitors keen to secure his services.

As IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora admitted, the news regarding Henshaw’s future could have been a lot less palatable.

Nucifora “I am disappointed for Connacht Robbie has decided to leave but pleased for Irish rugby he has committed to a further three years. I know the decision Robbie has taken to move from Connacht is not one he has taken lightly.”

Connacht coach Pat Lam insists that everything was done to keep Connacht’s marquee player at the Sportsground, but ultimately Henshaw chose otherwise.

“Without a doubt, Willie [Ruane], our CEO, and the IRFU did a tremendous job,” says Lam. “There were three parties involved and throughout the whole process we did everything we could, but again it comes back to the player’s decision and you respect that.

“The IRFU were very supportive. David [Nucifora] and Willie Ruane worked closely together, and we are really pleased with the support we had from the IRFU in the whole negotiation process.” Those negotiations were lengthy, extending beyond the Christmas deadline the 22-year-old Ireland centre had set for himself.

However, in the end, Henshaw, who had negotiating support from a former Connacht captain and assistant coach, Michael Cosgrave, and family members, opted to move on.

“Every player has his timelines to make, so it was totally over to him [when he made the decision]. It hasn’t affected us as a group, we have just tracked on. All of us were told last week, and then Willie [Ruane] let all of the staff know. All of the players and everyone knew before it all came out. The whole process was nice and clean.” However Lam says Henshaw’s decision is more keenly felt because he is a born and bred Connacht player.

“What makes it so disappointing is because he is a local boy and an icon, but he is not the first Connacht, Leinster, Munster or Ulster player who his left his home province and won’t be the last. I have coached teams and played in teams where we have had homegrown world class players, but that doesn’t guarantee success. What does guarantee success, is your structures, your culture, the game you play, the teamwork. I know the fans are disappointed, but what they want to see is a successful team, and that is what we are doing at the moment.

“Robbie is a part of it as well, but we want to continue building year-on-year so that Connacht Rugby is successful.” Lam has already signed former Connacht centre Eoin Griffin from London Irish for next season, joining Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Dave McSharry, Rory Parata, and Peter Robb in the midfield.

“Our main goal is to get Connacht Rugby into the Champions Cup and on the back of that, the contracts group is trying to build the strongest possible team — not to just to play in it, but to play well.”

Nor is Lam ruling out welcoming Henshaw back to the Sportsground. “There is no doubt this will always be his home, and who knows what is down the line. If he wanted to come back, the door is open for him — of course it is.”