'It was a tough decision to make' - Ciaran Frawley opens up on reasons for move to Connacht

Union Bordeaux Bègles' Matthieu Jalibert tackles Leinster's Ciaran Frawle. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Ciaran Frawley has revealed that the main drive in his upcoming switch from Leinster to Connacht is the opportunity to see more game time.

The Skerries man has spent eight years at his current club. A big, physical presence with a varied skillset, his versatility has seen him used in a variety of positions but without ever nailing down one of his own.

Leinster have preferred to use him mainly in a full-back role rather than at out-half where Ross Byrne, Sam Prendergast and Harry Byrne have been handed stints of varying duration in a bid to fill the hole left by Johnny Sexton’s retirement.

“You look at what Connacht are building, Stuart Lancaster after coming back… I worked under Stuart for quite a while, an unbelievable coach. I have a lot of respect for him… And it came down to guaranteed game time whatever and, jumping to Galway, that came into it.

“It was a tough decision to make. It is never easy leaving the club you grew up supporting, it’s so special to play for Leinster. I’m absolutely chuffed to have the caps I do and if you told me when I was a kid that I was going to have these caps I wouldn’t believe you. So it’s unbelievably special, but it’s also really sad to leave.”

The irony of his departure, and the timing of it, was inescapable last Saturday when he came on after 45 minutes of the Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux-Begles and looked much more at ease in the pivot than the replaced Harry Byrne.

To be fair, UBB had shut up shop by that point having built up a 35-7 half-time lead, but what is undeniable is the fact that Frawley will leave this summer at a point when Leinster look all at sea when it comes to the No.10 shirt.

Leo Cullen displayed clearly annoyance at the idea of Frawley’s loss after the Bilbao loss but it might have been different had the player been backed at No.10. Now he is set to add hugely to Connacht’s Arsenal.

“I feel like I'm in good form at the minute, I'm getting the game time now with Leinster. Things are going well towards the end of the season in terms of the form or whatever, but it was at the time when the conversations were going on it was just probably guaranteed the game time moreso.”

Nailing down a definitive playmaker is of absolute priority to Leinster now.

Prendergast’s star has plummeted after the province aped Andy Farrell’s decision to parachute him into the Ireland setup last season. A talented ball player, his defence has simply been far too frail for the vigours of top-class rugby so far.

Harry Byrne was next man up. Once the man everyone tipped to be the next big thing, injuries held him back and he needed a six-month stint with Bristol in the Premiership to rekindle the fire in and around him.

The departure of his older brother Ross to Gloucester last summer aided that opportunity but his kicking was not good enough in the semi-final against Toulon and he struggled – behind a beaten pack – in the deciding loss to Bordeaux-Begles.

Added to all this is a Leinster attacking game that still relies on structure and multi-phase to get the job done. Leo Cullen has even acknowledged the need for the team to look at the speed of the game adopted by the likes of UBB.

That won’t change overnight. Leinster have a URC title to defend now, starting with next week’s home quarter-final against the Lions. What worked for them in the past will have to work for them for another few weeks at the very least.

“I think the lads are running the week very well in terms of taking ownership, and that's forwards and backs,” said Frawley. “We're obviously quite a structured attacking team, and it's just taking pride in how we kind of master our craft and that. It's obviously gotten a lot better as the season's gone on.

“It was tough to attack out there [on Saturday]. It was hot, it was humid, the ball was quite wet, it was sweaty. So I thought when it clicked at times it looked good, especially at the start of the game, and then there were some moments in the second half where it was quite good. But it's just trying to put it together for 80 minutes.”