The end is in sight but could yet be delayed a while yet.
Four Six Nations titles (including two Grand Slams), two Lions tours, four league titles, four European Cups and a Challenge Cup. In October, all going well, Kearney by bypass the 200 caps mark for Leinster. He is currently Joe Schmidt’s No.15 in a winning Ireland side and Test cap 100 could arrive in 2019.
By November 2019, Kearney could have a couple more medals to add to the stack. He wouldn’t want it any way.
After Leinster reached the final of the Champions Cup, which they would go on to claim in Bilbao, Kearney declared:
“It’s human nature, you… you get really greedy. You want more. We’re in a club where we are surrounded by so many ambitious, competitive people…
“We’re part of something really special and winning is such a great feeling. And the more you win, the more you want to win and the more trophies you get, the greedier you get for more. That’s what builds it – greed, in a nice way.”
By November 2019, Kearney will be 33 and eight months (roughly… and roughly!). He may also be a former rugby player.
The contracts of Kearney and Rory Best were announced around the same time. The Ulster and Ireland captain – over three years older than Kearney – signed on until the end of the 2019/20 season. Kearney mirrored what Gordon D’Arcy did well in advance of the 2015 World Cup and signed an IRFU contract to take him to the end of the tournament. No further.
“My contract is up until November, after the World Cup,” he says.
“There’s no end in sight. When I was younger, I always wanted to make sure than I’d enjoy the last few years of my career and that I’d never put myself under any sort pressure.
“Two years ago if you had asked me [if the end was in sight], you know, the body was starting to give up. I would have said that it’d be the World Cup and I’d be done.
“If this season goes as well as last year did, and the body and mind are still in a good place, I would certainly be looking to play on, in some capacity.”
The fullback made nine appearances in 2016/17 and 11 last season. Assuming he will be busy with Ireland, and with a World Cup in sight, he may have a dozen games left in Leinster blue. 10, maybe 12. Pretty stark when you look at it like that.
He has taken the smart option of setting the finishing line at the end of the World Cup and will be aiming, like the rest of this Ireland squad, of contesting the final. If he starts in Japan, if Ireland go all the way, if, if, if… will that sate that greed?
He will have every right to retire a contented man. He could retire right now and he’d be rightly referred to as a legend for the rest of his years. But don’t rule out news of a contract extension, next year, just yet. Time (and form, luck, fitness, desire and luck again) will tell.
At the announcement of Leinster Rugbys new innovation partnership with BearingPoint were Leinster Rugby players, from left, Robbie Henshaw with Rob Kearney and Seán OBrien. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)Leinster’s PRO14 opener against Cardiff Blues will be broadcast free to air on eir Sport and on their social media channels, and YouTube on Friday night (7:35pm kick-off)
The free-to-air bonanza follows on Saturday with Connacht’s season opener against Glasgow Warriors is available on TG4, who are also showing the Leinster match, from 3pm. Munster (vs. Cheetahs) and Ulster (vs. Scarlets) are both kicking off at 5:15pm and are being broadcast on eir Sport.
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