Joey Carbery plots fresh start after notion to quit rugby amid Munster and Ireland struggles
EXIT DOOR: Joey Carbery of Munster. Pic: Seb Daly, Sportsfile
Joey Carbery is relishing the opportunity of a fresh start to his rugby career as he prepares for a strong finish to his Munster career and a “bittersweet” exit from the URC champions this summer.
The former Ireland fly-half, strongly linked with a close-season move to current Top 14 title contenders Bordeaux-Begles, did not disclose his chosen destination but did confirm his departure for France after six injury-hit seasons and just 61 appearances at Munster.
The emergence of Jack Crowley as Munster’s and now Ireland’s first-choice fly-half, combined with ongoing injury issues, Carbery revealed, led to him making his decision last autumn to leave at the completion of his current contract for a two-year deal in the French league, that choice confirmed by an earnest conversation with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.
Speaking yesterday as he and Munster prepare to welcome Cardiff to Thomond Park this Saturday evening, the 28-year-old gave the search for regular starts as his reason for seeking pastures new, and the loss of his place in the Ireland squad for last season’s Six Nations and the 2023 World Cup.
Yet the fly-half added he has not closed the door on a return to Munster or given up hope of adding to the 37 Test caps he earned between 2016 and November 2022.
“I chatted to Faz a good bit, but I suppose I’m only 28, who knows in two years what happens regarding World Cup cycles and everything,” Carbery said.
“But I didn’t think it was shut off completely. I did think I needed to put my hand up and I didn’t have the opportunity to do that with the (last October’s wrist) injury, the timing of it last year for this Six Nations.
“I didn’t want to be just sitting around waiting. I want to go make it happen myself, so I thought this was the best way to do it.”
Explaining how he reached his decision to quit Munster, Carbery added: “I think it was off the back of last season, how it went. An opportunity came up, I was always going to have a think about it.
“I suppose with the (wrist) injury as well, I think it was back in October/September, I never really gave myself a chance to get back into the Six Nations, so that kind of made it (decision) for me. I suppose it’s bittersweet, but it is what it is.
“I just want to be playing. I want to be involved. I suppose the last few weeks have been good, with the lads away (at the Six Nations) I have been able to get a load of game time and get back into my swing of things.
“Hopefully, touch wood, stay injury-free and keep going and push that through to next year.”
Referring to his description of a “bittersweet” exit, he admitted there were times during last season when he hated rugby; when he lost the number 10 jersey and did not play at all past the April 1 Champions Cup knockout hammering at the Sharks, as Crowley and the now-departed Ben Healy kept him out of the URC title run-in.
“The sweet bits I suppose are that it’s a new opportunity for me and my young family. My wife is due on June 6 with our first baby. It’s exciting on that side.
“She did an Erasmus in France, but we’ve just lived in Kildare, Dublin and Limerick her whole life... I moved here when I was 12, but it’s just something new, something fresh.
“A few people, I really consider their opinion said that a fresh start does the world of good for some people.
“And to be honest, that’s what I think I need. I need a fresh start. There were points of last year where I was like, if it all ended today, rugby-wise, I’d be happy enough to call it quits because I was hating rugby.
“So, I think a fresh start for me now, and then go from there really and see what happens.”
Pointedly, Carbery spoke of a difference in opinion about his abilities but added he had no regrets about his 2018 move south from Leinster to Munster.
“My body felt good, it was just the way things had gone. I rated myself higher than I thought I was being treated.
“I suppose at the end of the season nothing came around and I was contemplating it (quitting rugby), but look, my mood has changed a lot since then.
“I am playing rugby again. I am enjoying it. I suppose I am just going out to enjoy it, get back to where I was five, six years ago when I went out without a worry, just going out and playing. So I’m enjoying rugby again, yeah.
“I have loved my time here. I suppose the biggest thing I can say is, I have friends for life here.
“I don’t want the door to be shut completely either because who knows in two years what will happen, but I have loved my time here.
“Rugby-wise I would have liked to have kicked on differently, I suppose the reason for the move (from Leinster) was to kick on, but look, I have had a tough time with injuries.
“I feel like I am kind of getting over that now. I know I had a bad one in September, but I just need to keep moving on and enjoy playing rugby because that’s when I play my best.”
Carbery added he had felt the pressure lift once his mind was made up to leave, and that was a boost both to him and Munster.
“Hugely. It would have been back in October, November, I made the decision and when I made it was like a weight off my shoulders. I knew there was no pressure then once that decision was done.
“It was like I could just come in to training and finish this year strong with Munster and see where that brings me.”
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