Cahir sure pro opportunity would knock, but not at Leinster 

Jerry Cahir of Leinster and family after the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

While he didn’t necessarily envisage himself doing so in the blue jersey, Leinster prop Jerry Cahir has said he always believed an opportunity would eventually come his way in professional rugby.

During his time as a student in Cistercian College Roscrea, Cahir played alongside a number of players who have gone on to thrive at the elite level – including current Ireland senior squad members Michael Milne and Cormac Izuchukwu. 

Yet it wasn’t until last September at the age of 25 that Cahir started to ply his club trade beyond the amateur ranks of the game.

Having previously drafted in Clontarf duo Dylan Donnellan and Ivan Soroka for brief spells, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen once again turned to the All-Ireland League by bringing the Lansdowne front-row (who has also represented Old Belvedere and Dublin University at domestic level) into the province’s set-up on a short-term deal.

“I knew an opportunity would come for me in professional rugby. I just felt I had that potential. I played in multiple clubs in the AIL, which some people would say isn’t a good thing, but I would say is a great thing. Because I met so many good people across it and so many people that were willing to help me,” Cahir explained.

“I would have looked towards the lads and thought I can definitely do this, but would I have thought that opportunity would come in Leinster? 

"Probably not because I would have looked at the depth at loosehead and the calibre of looseheads that were here and thought maybe ‘why would they ever need me?’ I guess here I am now, which is great.” 

From the Tipperary side of Roscrea – though he stated the border between the Premier County and Offaly ran through his garden via the Little Brosna River – Cahir began his Leinster career in fine style by scoring a try on his debut against Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship at the Aviva Stadium on October 25.

He also made an appearance off the bench in a win over Dragons in November and while this proved to be his final appearance of 2025, Cahir has subsequently become a ubiquitous presence within Leinster match day squads due to injuries picked up by loosehead rivals Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle.

This made him a valuable asset to the eastern province during a hectic period across the URC and the European Champions Cup. In fact, despite only originally being due to stay at Leinster until February, Cahir revealed he will now be on board for the rest of the 2025/26 season.

It remains to be seen how many games he will play between now and then, but this evening does see the dependable loosehead making his second start in blue when Edinburgh pay a visit to the Aviva Stadium in the URC (kick-off 5.30pm).

“I’ll be here until definitely the end of the season and I’m absolutely delighted with that. One of my friends Ronan Loughnane is playing over in Aurillac [in France’s Pro D2] and I remember he came over during Christmas,” Cahir added.

“He came home, I was catching up with him and he said to me ‘God man, what an opportunity. The people you have around you, the likes of Robin McBryde, Jacques Nienaber, Leo Cullen, Tyler Bleyendaal and then all the players. How lucky are you to be learning, so just keep that going for as long as possible’.

“Which is great. I’ll be here for as long as I can be here and right now as it stands, we’ve agreed that I’ll be here until the end of the season.”