Carty has life waiting outside rugby but Lancaster still wants his influence at Connacht

Jack Carty said he would be interested in giving something back to Connacht but he has commitments beyond rugby

Jack Carty will join his family's meat business after retiring from rugby. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Stuart Lancaster is anxious that Jack Carty remains involved with Connacht next season in a coaching capacity, but he accepts that the province’s all-time top scorer is not in a position to commit to a full-time role.

The Roscommon native will bring the curtain down on a superb 15-year career at the end of this season and join the family meat business outside Athlone which was set up in the 1950s, while also continuing to expand a padel business he set up himself.

But Lancaster is keen to retain some of the huge influence and respect Carty has in the Connacht squad and is hopeful the 33-year-old will remain involved, especially to continue mentoring younger players.

“Jack's got too many things going on outside of rugby to want to be a full-time coach. I know he's got a lot of other things on the go but what I'm saying is, is there a potential for him to stay involved in some sort of skills capacity or kicking consultant?

“I just want him involved in the club to be honest, mentoring young players. It doesn't have to be much and we haven't even really broadened the conversation out from me suggesting it and Jack's sort of looking at me as if I'm crazy.” 

Lancaster said he was fully aware of Carty’s qualities coaching against him when he was with Leinster and he has been hugely impressed by him since he came to Galway.

“I guess the real standout qualities are what you guys don't see, which is the contribution he makes on a daily basis to Connacht Rugby,” added Lancaster.

“He will be the first guy in the meeting, he's got his notebook ready, he's already speaking to the young players, he's organised the leadership group. He's just like the ultimate team man. He's also of the highest integrity.

“Integrity is your passport in life isn't it? I said in the meeting when he announced it this morning to the playing group, I said the highest accolade anyone can give is he's got a man of great integrity but also he'll be successful in life because he's such a good person.

“Obviously I knew of him and I coached against him but having coached with him now and worked with him in the leadership group and witnessed his contribution, he's a very hard man to replace in the organisation. I haven't given up yet by the way on him leaving the building full stop.

“I still think he's got something to offer. When I think about young tens coming through, the elements of kicking, he just bleeds Connacht Rugby doesn't he? So it would be a shame to let him walk away and not contribute anything.

“I remember having the same conversation with Johnny Sexton and he was more, 'I need to look at life outside of rugby' but he's come back hasn't he and I think Jack could be the same.” 

Carty said he would be interested in giving something back but with he and his wife Sarah expecting their first child in June, and a commitment to join the family business as well as look after other interests, he’s going to have his hands full.

“How I would see it, I would like in an informal capacity like say with the young players that are coming through I feel that where I'm best equipped is nearly like this mentor role. It has been well documented that I've had some of the biggest highs and tough periods.

“Some of it is nearly mentoring them through coaching so you're speaking about goal kicking and various different things about attack but it's kind of the different conversations that come off it around what are they finding difficult outside of life, what are the things that they enjoy.

“Stu has said it to me a few times in passing but he's never really formally said it to me. I'll need to speak to Stu to see what it really is.

“I think it would have to be something that would be right on my terms. I want to get back to Athlone and work alongside my dad,” said Carty, who has scored 1,260 points so far in his 231 appearances for Connacht and who featured at the 2019 World Cup where he picked up three of his eleven Irish caps.