Munster caution has paid off with Edogbo now ready to roll

Munster have eased Edwin Edogbo's big frame back to full match sharpness with judicious caution.

Edwin Edogbo during an Ireland Rugby squad training session at The Campus in Quinta do Lago, Portugal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Eight months ago, as he was sucking diesel in a Munster A jersey in his first game back from a second serious Achilles’ tendon injury, Edwin Edogbo would not have believed anyone who told him he would be preparing for a potential Guinness Six Nations debut this week.

Yet here the 23-year-old from Cobh sits, in a meeting room at The Campus, Ireland’s training base at Quinta do Lago on Portugal’s Algarve, as a full squad member vying for selection to face the defending champions France in Paris next Thursday night.

Could this possibly have been on his horizon?

“Probably not, because after five minutes I was in a dark place with the lungs,” Edogbo said.

“But look, it was always hard to say, but I just put the head down and tried to work back to a place where I was comfortable with my game. And then go from there.” 

Edogbo had to wait a further five months for his senior Munster comeback, off the bench against Edinburgh in Cork last October 10. The 6ft 5ins, 19st 11lb lock has looked entirely comfortable with his game ever since.

His return after 22 months of painstaking rehabilitation has not been without bumps in the road, not least the concussion he sustained at Croke Park the following week which meant he could not take up the invitation he had received from Andy Farrell to train with Ireland in Chicago ahead of last November 1’s Soldier Field clash with New Zealand. However, his time on the pitch since has been put to good use as Munster have eased his big frame back to full match sharpness with judicious caution. Indeed, Edogbo feels “very confident” and capable of taking the next step.

“I think in fairness to Munster they really took care of me in that period where I was transitioning back into playing in such high-level games and yeah, I do feel ready right now.

“November was a little sore for me. I think just, you know, getting the call-up initially and being happy and then a few days after getting that concussion and then being over it.

“But I suppose, look, everything happens for a reason and I worked hard to get back and I was fortunate again for the opportunity to come up again.

“It's been a very long road but now I'm feeling good, body's feeling good, getting back to that match fitness and hopefully looking to kick on from here now.” 

A place in Farrell’s matchday 23 under the lights at Stade de France next Thursday night would cap the perfect return but Edogbo is not taking anything for granted.

“I think I understand if the opportunity came around, I would be more than ready to be up for it. But with the nature of the squad, competition is huge and everyone's fighting for position.

“And I think there's a huge learning aspect of this for me as well that shouldn't get lost as well. I'm enjoying being around lads like Joe (McCarthy), James Ryan, Tadhg (Beirne), getting a bit of snippets off them and seeing what I can add to my game.” 

Selection next Tuesday would also crown a cracking 10 days for the Edogbo family given Edwin’s younger brother Sean, a Munster academy back rower 17 months his junior, made his senior debut for the province against the Dragons in Cork last Friday. The elder brother was in the Virgin Media Park stands to watch Sean put in a man of the match performance in the 22-20 URC win, one which earned the flanker as second start at Glasgow Warrior on Friday night.

Big brother was immensely proud.

“It was amazing, to be honest. Just to see the family group chat popping off and then going back home and seeing smiles across everyone's faces is very special.

“Then for him to get a man of the match that Friday as well, and a brilliant performance, it was almost a cherry on top. Hopefully we see him get more of them in the games and hopefully I can be there with him.” 

Both brothers came up through the ranks at Cobh Pirates, with Edwin admitting Sean was the first of them to join before he signed up aged 13.

“Honestly, from my point of view, I know I'm a bit biased, but there's no better club to be at to help develop you and grow you into a player. The way they take care of the players and care for all the staff is amazing and I'm very grateful for them.

“We've still been in touch with a few of the old coaches and a few of the lads I've played with. I still go to the clubhouse gym whenever I can when I'm back home. I go to the club for runs and stuff, so I'm still very well connected with them.” 

There will be celebrations in the Pirates clubhouse if selection falls his way next week, as well as at home in Cobh, where Patience Edogbo and her family is the siblings’ biggest supporter.

“Oh, they love it,” Edwin said. “My mother wouldn't have been the biggest fan of rugby. So growing up, just with it being such a highly contact sport, not much protection, but now she's in full flow of it, she loves every bit of it. She'd be critiquing our games sometimes! But no, it's great to have that support system.”