Leinster back row Ruddock adapting to leadership role

Joe Schmidt decided Rhys Ruddock was the obvious man to be promoted from the ranks earlier this summer when the Lions expedition relieved him of his usual on-field generals for the tour to the USA and Japan.

At 26, the Leinster back row is entering the prime years of his career and he had already played the role of skipper with both his province and Allan Clarke’s Emerging Ireland side. He was the obvious candidate. “I was just hoping to get picked on the panel to go,” he explained ahead of the new season. “I knew there was heavy competition in the back row so I was hoping I had done enough with my performances to get on the plane.

“I was aware I was a more senior squad member when it was announced and that there was a possibility of being one of the leadership figures. I was keen on making sure that I used my leadership experience with the group but I wasn’t really thinking of the actual captaincy.