Break was badly needed but Munster's Calvin Nash now itching to get going

Nash is happy to have some 'healthy' competition for his Munster position

Irish Rugby International, Munster Player and Tackle Your Feelings ambassador Calvin Nash at the launch of the new season of Tackle Your Feelings School’s Programme. Picture: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Calvin Nash may with good reason be able to look back on last season as his best yet as a professional rugby player but the Ireland wing dare not rest on his laurels heading into the new campaign.

Munster’s men’s player of the year enjoyed a dream 2023-24 season, with a starting role for Ireland in both the Guinness Six Nations title defence and a series draw with the world champion Springboks on tour in South Africa during the summer.

It helped earn Nash, 27, a new contract with his home province and a well-earned break that enabled him to make a delayed return to pre-season training. Like his fellow frontline Ireland internationals, the Limerick wing was grateful for the down time but must now bide his time in preparation for a seasonal debut at home against Ospreys in Cork a week on Saturday.

The break, Nash said: “Was well needed. I had a very sore body coming home from South Africa.” 

The flip side is having to watch Munster crack on into the new URC season without him. This Saturday’s trip to Zebre Parma in Italy follows on from a dramatic league-opening home victory over Connacht last weekend and he admitted: “It has been tough. I’m kind of itching to get going now, to be honest, it's a weird one.

“A few years ago, I was so used to watching the team play, but now it feels kind of weird looking at it and you want to play all the games but obviously you can't, unfortunately.” 

Nash, speaking from Newbridge where he was visiting a school to help launch Rugby Players Ireland’s new school season of the Tackle Your Feelings Schools online teaching platform, achieved his objective of playing in the Six Nations for the first time last season, and helping to win back-to-back titles for Ireland as “a dream come true”. His Munster Player of the Year award was the icing on the cake.

“I just wanted to play as well as I possibly could with Munster and Ireland and just really thankful I was voted for that award.

“But look, yeah, massively privileged to be wearing a Munster and Ireland jersey and hopefully stay healthy and keep doing it.” 

Nash has a plan to stay in the red and green number 14 jerseys he made his own last season, conscious of the increased competition for both given Munster’s summer signings of back-three players Thaakir Abrahams and Diarmuid Kilgallen and the return to fitness after a nine-month absence of Mack Hansen, the previous incumbent of the Irish shirt.

“I feel like I’m still improving all the time and I still try and improve every day so that’s probably the main thing you need to be doing, just try to get better every day or else people catch you.

“So I’m going to try and keep pushing away from people as much as I can and hopefully keep getting picked.” 

Munster’s Thaakir Abrahams. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Nash is magnaminous about his positional rivals, who were facing off against each other at Thomond Park last Saturday when Abrahams occupied Munster’s right wing with Hansen on Connacht’s.

"I'm delighted Mack's back, I can imagine he's had a tough few months and it hasn't been nice for him watching any of the Irish games. He's a great lad, we had him in during the Six Nations and look, he's great craic and everything and it's unreal that he's back and I'm delighted for him.

"But look, you have to be positive in your own sense and just back your own ability, and if you put your best foot forward that's all you can do. So whatever happens, happens. As long as I play as well as I can then I won't regret anything.” 

As for Abrahams, the Munster man added: “You can see, every time he gets the ball, he looks very dangerous. But, off the field as well, he's a great lad. I feel like I connect with him very well.

“We go back and forth trying to help each other and that’s obviously a great thing to do. A really good part of the club that everyone just wants to make each other better and we're bouncing off each other.

“Look, every bit of competition is good as long as it's healthy. I think we can learn a lot from each other, and we can progress each other a lot.” 

Nash is also hoping the TYF Schools programme allows student to enhance their mental well-being.

"I wish I had access to a programme like TYF Schools when I was growing up. It's so important for young people to learn how to manage stress, build resilience, and talk openly about their mental health. This ready-to-go programme provides teachers with the resources they need to help their students understand their own positive mental well-being, and they can even get something out of it themselves.

“I would have had a great time in those sessions and I think it would be a very good addition to any school.” 

As part of the launch, Teachers from across Ireland who sign up to deliver the programme this school year will be entered into a nationwide competition to win two tickets to a rugby game of their provincial team this season. To learn more visit tackleyourfeelings.com/schools. Tackle Your Feelings was launched by Rugby Players Ireland and Zurich in 2016 and is funded by the Z Zurich Foundation.