MUNSTER, Ireland and Lions star Keith Earls spoke to Postsport this week about his return from injury and his ambitions for the new season.
The 22-year-old speed merchant has been out of action since the end of last season with a groin strain. The rehab of which is proving difficult.

“It is going good. I had a scan on it recently and there is still a small bit of the injury there but it is healing well. Running into the last couple of the Heineken Cup games, I was only doing 20 minutes at training and then, having played the match I would not be able to get out of bed after it. It was so sore. After a couple of days then it would heal again. I had a fitness test before the Irish squad went on tour and it just didn’t feel right. Obviously you want to be 100% going down there. So it was decided I would stay here and rehab”.

So a summer spent in gyms and on physio tables beckoned for the Thomond centre. “I had 12 days in Portugal, lying by the pool, I couldn’t do anything at all so I just lay out and relaxed, It has been a case of minding myself really. It is just all upper body weights and swimming at the moment and some light running. It is nothing too exciting at the moment, but rehab is so important it is all worth it. I cannot wait to get back playing. It is wrecking my head standing on the sidelines and watching the lads training and playing. I have to do what is right for the injury first and then the playing will come”.

In this, a World Cup year, attention is always going to be on the young back’s shoulders. In previous seasons Keith has been picked to play for Ireland and Munster in a variety of positions from full back to centre to wing. This season however, Keith has his eyes on one prize.
“People in the press have been asking me what position I will be looking for with Ireland now that Luke Fitzgerald is coming back and Andrew Trimble is there too, I have said now that I don’t want to be a winger anymore. I want to play at 12 or 13. Obviously if selected in another position, for Ireland or Munster, I would give my all, but this year I want to play at 12 or 13. I hate the name utility back. You do not want that 22 jersey. I want to lay down my marker this season in the centre”.

Centre is where Keith made his name at schools rugby and where most experts on the game would suggest he is likely to end up. With this year being such a big year and it beginning with injury is there going to be more pressure on the young Limerick man?
“There is never real pressure from my family and friends or indeed anyone from Munster. I used to think too much about games and stuff before, but I have changed that now. I still pinch myself. I have to get used to it now. I have to believe in myself and stop doubting my own ability. I am a Munster player and I just have to get on with it now. Next year you are going to see a different me. A bit more cocky, but good cocky you know. I need to just enjoy my rugby and the rest will come.”
Indeed the rest will come. Keith is expected to be a major player once more for Munster and Ireland this year but at the moment, there is no definite return date for the speedster.
“It is hard to know at the moment when I will return. The Irish and the Munster physios will decide on the best plan for me and we can go from there. I have to do what is right for the injury and see where we are in three weeks. I hope, in three weeks, to start my own full pre season sessions”.
With such a hectic schedule behind him since his break through, this injury has come as a reminder of how lucky Keith has been with spells on the sideline. The break this summer might be a blessing.
“I suppose it might be in the long run. I have been going solid really since I made my debut. What with the Lions test and everything. I had three weeks off in that period so this break might help further down the line. With the load going through my body, the injury was bound to come. The physios at Ireland and Munster are telling me that my body is not fully developed yet, my pelvis and core are still developing and my body is not quiet strong enough yet for the workload I have been going through. Hopefully I can get it right and get back for the start of the new season.”
The whole of Munster and Ireland, no doubt, echo those thoughts.
Munster play their first game of the new season at Musgrave Park on August 20 against Leicester Tigers.
Tickets on sale at www.munsterrugby.ie.

Keith Earls and Doug Howlett spoke to Limerick Post Sports Editor Donn O’Sullivan at the New Munster alternate jersey launch in Cork last week. The new jersey is in stores on August 12. Next week, Paul O’Connell on his return and in our August 14 issue, Ronan O’Gara on all things rugby.