Keith Earls interview: 'I struggled coming from an environment where it's all trust'

The former Munster, Ireland and Lion flyer on the eye-opening differences between sport and Civvie Street, a good coffee and the Munster head coach debate

In attendance at Croke Park in Dublin, to mark the launch of the 2025 Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues is former Ireland and Munster rugby player Keith Earls. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Around the beginning of the last decade, Keith Earls was struggling with the defensive side of his game. He was regularly swapping between centre and wing, finding it hard to adapt when his side didn’t have possession. His father Ger told him to watch England backrow Maggie Alphonsi for some inspiration.

“He didn't tell me, ‘Look at Neil Back’ or anyone like that,” explains Earls. “He said, 'Look at Maggie Alphonsi playing for England. She's a pocket rocket'. She was very aggressive. Her attitude into contact was what I really took notice of.”