'I was blown away, just the time he gave me': Jack Crowley thankful for Ronan O'Gara guidance
Munster Rugby star Jack Crowley pictured as Pinergy launch “Going Solar Guide.” This exciting announcement coincides with Pinergy's continued commitment to Munster Rugby’ sustainability ambitions as part of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action programme. To keep up to date with Jack’s partnership, visit @Pinergyenergy on Instagram for more. #OwnTheMoment
Jack Crowley has no regrets about turning down the chance to join Ronan O’Gara at La Rochelle four years ago, but he will be forever grateful to the Munster legend for showing him the path to the red number 10 jersey.
The pair will be in opposite dressing rooms for the first time at Stade Marcel-Deflandre this Saturday when O’Gara’s side welcome Crowley’s Munster for an eagerly anticipated Champions Cup Round of 16 clash. And with the 25-year-old from Innishannon still yet to sign the new contract to keep him in Ireland beyond this summer, his reasons for staying with his home province when O’Gara came calling back in 2021 appear just as solid now as they were then.
The La Rochelle head coach revealed in his column at the time how Crowley, then fourth in the fly-half pecking order at Munster, preferred to stay put rather than move to the Top 14 club.
“Patience is a virtue in these situations and Jack is happy to bide his time and make his mark with Munster,” O’Gara wrote. “I know all this because he has turned down the chance to sign for La Rochelle, with whom I am familiar.
“Am I disappointed? Bloody right I am. This boy is a talent.”
Crowley, speaking as a Pinergy ambassador on Wednesday, confirmed the approach from his boyhood hero.
“Well, there was an opportunity that came about and they always will be coming about, and that's the way that it goes. But yeah, there was conversations had, and it was a long time ago now and between now and then a lot has changed, but yeah, we had conversations then and I’m happy with where I am.”
The pair have maintained contact on and off since, Crowley said while O’Gara’s influence on him from an early age has been a driving force for his successor in the position.
“Yeah, well, I guess from an early day, going back to when I was a young fella, in terms of watching him for Munster and Ireland, I'd be lying to you if I said he wasn't someone that I wanted to grow up and imitate and be like and bring that success to Munster.
“You know, watching Heineken Cups being lifted and stuff like that, as a young fella that drives you to do that for where you're from.
“And then obviously, going through time, I was unbelievably fortunate to meet him early days with Cork Con, and I was blown away, just the time he gave me. And from there on, just small little snippets of staying in touch meant the world to me and I suppose seeing the way that he went about his journey and made it work for him shows the character he has, and yeah, it will be exciting to go up against each other on Saturday.”
Crowley has been equally impressed by O’Gara’s move into coaching, first as defence coach at Racing 92, then down to New Zealand for a stint with the Crusaders before returning to France with La Rochelle, whom he has guided to three Champions Cup finals, winning it back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.
“I think you've got admire it, don't you? You know, from an early stage going off and to learn the game and learn different cultures and learn different games, going to Racing and spending seasons there and then down to Crusaders and understand how the southern hemisphere… that culture and that passion element of things, and the way that they play rugby. Back up to France and the way that he's brought success to La Rochelle over the last number of years is, it’s nothing but you can credit it. You'd have to admire the way he went about his journey.”
Coming up against O’Gara as an opposition head coach will change the dynamic on Saturday but Crowley said his will to win with Munster did not equate to getting one over on his hero.
“Ah, it's never about that. It's just team against team and may the best one win.”
Munster will travel to La Rochelle with optimism high on the back of a bonus-point URC derby victory at Connacht in Mayo last Saturday in which Crowley was named man of the match on his try-scoring return from a post-Six Nations break.
It all builds very nicely into this week’s preparations for a huge Champions Cup showdown at the weekend.
“Yeah, there's always a different feel to European weeks. There's something special about it and something that this club has always prided itself massively on.
“We've come up short over the last few years, and that's something that we've grown to understand and navigate, but we want to be able to put our best foot forward this weekend, and that comes down to the way that we operate in the week.
“There is a great feel amongst a lads, a lot of tension and excitement, but that's what makes this so special.”
Contract negotiations may be “ongoing” and presumably the big, alternative offer from Leicester Tigers remains on the table but it is difficult to imagine Crowley not being a Munster player next season and when asked on Wednesday if he would have been pleased with his current career status now when he was a teenager back at Bandon Grammar School, the fly-half said: “I think I’d bite your hand off for the opportunity to be where I am right now.
“At times with that (seeking) perfection element you are always trying to think that you could be in a better position but when I was a young fella the goal was to get my first cap for Munster and if I kept it as simple as that, right now where I am, and to be in the positions I am and to have the opportunities I have in front of me and to play in such good team I’d be a fool if I said I wouldn’t snap that right up.”
