John Hodnett’s work as a carpenter dovetails with drive to improve

HAPPY PLACE: John Hodnett enjoys carpentry when away from rugby. Picture: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

John Hodnett is in a happy place ahead of Munster’s trip to Zebre Parma on Saturday.

Pre-season is over, the new URC campaign has got underway with a barnstorming victory over Connacht and the back-rower’s eternal quest for self-improvement continues unabated.

Whether it’s the frontline of the contact area currently occupying the West Cork man, or the finer points of carpentry to which he devoted his summer off-season, Hodnett’s desire to get better is at the heart of his every action and this weekend’s departure of the Emerging Ireland squad for South Africa has been an opportunity to reflect on Hodnett’s own development since his selection for the previous tour in 2022.

The 25-year-old’s rival, amongst many, for the Munster number seven jersey, Alex Kendellen will captain Emerging Ireland this time round for a condensed three-game set within seven days in Bloemfontein and if he gets as much out of the experience as his fellow Corkman did two years ago, then he will be doing well.

“It’s a good opportunity for him now,” Hodnett told the Irish Examiner this week. “It’s a tough place to go, at altitude and it will be warm but he’s well able.” 

The openside flanker has used the tour as a stepping off point to develop the lessons he learned under the Irish management led by Simon Easterby and asked for the main takeaways he said: “Definitely a lot of the smaller detailed stuff they really focus on, which is so important. Probably the biggest thing I took away from it was nailing all the minor details and constantly nailing them all the time is so important.

“There’s a lot of stuff I’ve personally been working on since, they’re always constant work-ons and you see the lads in the (Ireland) squad, they’re excellent at it. It’s how they train it and why they’re so good.” 

Hodnett explained his drive for constantly developing his skill set and game knowledge.

“You have to be honest with yourself and critically think about what you need to get better at yourself and not just go through the motions of ‘this fella’s doing that so I’ll do that with him’. You need to personalise it, know your own game, know yourself, and pick out bits and pieces that you need to get better at but you have to be honest without yourself.

“We have a good culture here around that which definitely makes it a bit easier and everyone’s in the same boat with it. It’s been brought forward that this is the way forward so it’s great and it makes those hard conversations with yourself a bit easier because you know you’re not the only one doing it.

“You review every training session as soon as they put it up on Huddle and look at yourself and the whole team in general too, but you’re looking at things you can do better on that day and bring it to the next day.” 

Hodnett’s approach to carpentry is not quite so forensic but it’s just as serious in its intent.

“Oh yeah, definitely. There’s so much to learn, it’s so interesting and probably something I’d look to do when I’m done with rugby. Obviously rugby comes first but you’re always looking to add a string to your bow.

“I’m a qualified PE and maths teacher as well but I’m not sure what I’ll do yet. Hopefully there’s loads of time to decide but I quite like working outside, and I like what a carpenter does. It’s peaceful enough for the most part.

“My dad’s a carpenter and I went working with him for the time off. It’s something I enjoy and a good break from rugby. It’s something I enjoy and a different world, really.

“It’s nice to get a break and feel more refreshed coming back to rugby then.” 

Zebre will have Hodnett’s full attention on Saturday and the back-rower is wary of their threats, many of which will have been addressed following a thrilling but flawed team performance against Connacht.

“There’s always a few things, both sides of the ball in attack and defence. There’s stuff we can get better at, stuff the coaches have seen and showed us, so constant work-ons, both sides of the ball.

“They’re good on the counter, off scraps. They’re very good in an unstructured attack, that’s probably their biggest threat so ourselves protecting the ball is a big thing, holding onto it if we can and just knowing your threats and dealing with them.”