'It’s my third first cap' - Returning Hanrahan grateful for another shot with Munster

Tthe 33-year-old Kerry native will kick off his season with the Reds in Cork on Friday night.

KICK FOR HOME: The well-travelled JJ Hanrahan is determined to make the most of another term at Thomond Park. Pic: INPHO/Nick Elliott

JJ Hanrahan begins his third stint as a Munster player when he runs out at Virgin Media Park on Friday night, just as motivated to succeed as he was when he stepped out into the limelight as a raw recruit 13 years ago, and quite possibly more so.

For the 33-year-old Kerry-born fly-half, re-signing with his native province for a second time in his career, having first rejoined after two seasons at Northampton Saints from 2015-17, has been an unexpected bonus after spells with Clermont Auvergne, the Dragons and latterly Connacht.

It is clear there is a gravitational pull on Hanrahan to his home turf and he put up little resistance to it when the chance came to add to his 142 appearances in red.

The jersey will be pulled on with relish when Bath arrive in Cork for Munster’s second and final pre-season game before the URC campaign kicks off at Scarlets a fortnight on Saturday and Hanrahan said: “The boys are slagging me, it’s my third first cap!

“It’s funny, I used to play with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder when I was younger. It's a great energy for one or two games, but it doesn't last for too long.

"So I think for now I just want to enjoy my rugby and express myself and play the best rugby I can within the framework and try and help the team win.

“It's about the group, you know what I mean? I'm not here to prove any points to anyone. It's about the group. The higher up we are at the table, and if I can come back and be involved in a team that's winning for Munster and winning silverware, that's been my dream since a young boy, I'd be delighted.” 

Hanrahan was 23 when he first struck out from Munster for pastures new, moving to Franklin’s Gardens in 2015, a year after being named his province’s young player of the year and kicking his way to the PRO12’s Golden Boot Award.

He regained that same award, albeit for the expanded PRO14 in the second season of his return to Thomond Park, 2019-20 and those further spells in France, Wales and Galway have made him appreciate what he was leaving behind at home.

“It's funny, but particularly when I was younger we used to give out about this thing and give out about that thing, and then you go away and you might travel and see a few different clubs and you realise how good this club is.

"You really realise how good Munster is, from food to S&C, to physios and all that stuff that's looked after, they give you absolutely everything you need to put the best version of yourself on the field. We're quite in a privileged position, that's one thing I've probably noticed from being away to coming back."

Hanrahan will remain forever grateful to Connacht for giving him the opportunity to return to Ireland to continue his career and he has made the further step back to Munster as a more contented and relaxed person, and a family man with wife Fabienne, daughter Màelle and an Irish setter called Rua.

"Definitely very different as a person, for sure. I think I've learned loads about myself. You look back and you're like, 'Oh, if I did this or I did that'. You can't. You just learn loads about yourself.

"You go away, like myself and my missus, and the dog, and now a baby. That becomes your unit, you know what I mean? You realise that you don't have the comforts of home when you go away, and it is just you, and how you react to things, and how you deal with pressures in different places and learn different languages, and try and speak to French internationals, things like that. You pick up and you develop as you go along.

"I think coming back, you try and bring all those experiences with you. I don't think you think about it too much, but maybe it just happens. It comes out, hopefully.

“For me, I love playing rugby and I love playing rugby for Munster. If I can put and express that on the field through the way I want to play the game and the framework that would be the best thing for JJ Hanrahan, the best for Munster and hopefully it can snowball from there. That's what I want.”