Chris Henry: I’ll bounce back and play for Ireland again

Chris Henry still believes he is still good enough to play for Ireland and has vowed to bounce back better than ever from his last injury setback.

The Ulster flanker, who turns 32 next week, has missed the start of the season after surgery on his shoulder over the summer but is targeting a return before the autumn international break.

Henry has defied the odds before, recovering from a mini stroke in November 2014 to return for Ulster four months later.

He played a key role for Ireland in the World Cup last autumn and insists his international career isn’t over.

“I’ve got 24 caps for Ireland and I do think there’s more in me,” he said.

“Every player is going to have doubts in their heads but I’ve come back from worse things and bigger setbacks.

“I never would have thought I’d get to the World Cup and I got on that squad.

“In 2014 I didn’t think I was going to feature there (on a winning Six Nations squad) yet I came back and played.

“In our game, there’s always going to be injuries so I don’t think I’ll ever say to Ireland in my mind: ‘Ah, I’ll never get there again’.

“Certainly priority number one is to get back playing for Ulster. That’s worked for me in the past, so I’ll keep to that process and who knows what can happen in the future.

“I’m at the age where I have the knowledge and the experience and if I can keep my body in the best shape I can, I do think I’m still at that level. But I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Henry damaged the same shoulder before which caused him to miss the 2016 Six Nations campaign and he wasn’t selected for the summer tour to South Africa.

He admits he was carrying a shoulder problem for most of last season, which affected his performances.

“There were stages where I wasn’t happy with how I was playing and it (the shoulder) was definitely in the back of my mind going into games.

“Maybe five or six years ago you might have got away with it but nowadays you just can’t.

“But I’m feeling strong now and starting to lift back to where I was before in the gym. I’m feeling confident but the big test will be whenever I get out there and make my first tackle or my first turnover.

“There are a couple of ‘A’ games coming up and I think three or four weeks is a realistic target (to play). It would be nice to get some rugby before the international break. I’m just desperate to get back out there in that seven jersey.”

Ulster lost their first game of the season away to PRO12 champions Connacht last Friday.

They remain top of the table but switch focus to the European Champions Cup, starting with an away clash on Sunday against Bordeaux-Begles.

“Hopefully we give ourselves a great chance to fight on both fronts this year,” Henry added.