Leinster Rugby vs DHL Stormers

“I had been in there for over four
months and this is when it became really
intimidating. These guys I had been
watching on television started to appear
and Sean O’Brien is my favourite player
of all-time.”
Even then, Leinster respected Tony’s
game enough to keep playing him for
Leinster A at a time when he turned
down a professional contract to play in
England.
There was an offer on the table from
Rotherham to join the Championship club,
amounting to £16,000 for the season. No
match fees. No accommodation.
Still thriving at Clontarf, he is a decorated
veteran with three All-Ireland League
medals in 2014, 2016 and 2022 with
plans to add a fourth by the end of the
season.
“I absolutely loved my time at Leinster. I
was disappointed it was all over. I look
back on it now and feel I did as well as I
could from the opportunities I got. I would
have preferred to stay a professional.
The right opportunity just never came my
way.”
“I was also anxious to get going in my
career,” he says.
Tony’s memories of playing there for the
Leinster A’s didn’t make the decision any
harder. There was no way he was going
to forego his career.
For the last five years, Tony has worked
as a Business Sales Executive for medical
devices company Fannin Ltd, finding a
familiar crossover in some aspects of his
job.
“When you play rugby, you have a
good grasp of discipline and working in a
team environment,” he adds.
“When you play, you have a
performance expectation. The same goes
for work. You always have to perform.
My work is in sales. There are a lot of
targets and results to be met.
“Outside that, there is the social element
that is required for rugby and in sales. You
have to be able to relate to people.”
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