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Catching Up With Dave Foley.

23rd April 2010 By Munster Rugby

Catching Up With Dave Foley.

We catch up with second year academy player Dave Foley who plays his club rugby with UL Bohs and starts for Munster in the semi final of the British and Irish Cup on Saturday in Thomond Park.

As a first year academy player in season 08/09 Dave Foley found himself joining the senior squad on their warm weather training camp in Lanzarote, short-listed for academy player of the year, and benching for Munster against Cardiff Blues in the Magners League.

The future was looking bright for the young Clonmel man and one only wondered what was to come next.   Now coming to the end of his second academy year we get an update from the player himself.

You were a notable absentee from the Munster pre-season games….

“I picked up an injury going into the summer – osteitis pubis (a pelvic injury) – and I was out of action for close to three months with it, which basically took all my pre-season away. I got back then and was unfit starting into AIL and just had to build my pre-season training in-season.”

“It’s an over-use injury. It’s something where you think you’re getting better and then a week later you could be back to square one with it. I was lucky to work with Munster Rugby physio Neil Tucker and academy physio Damian Morden and they got me back quicker than I should have. I just have to be careful with it and monitor it now.”

“It was very disheartening to see the other academy lads involved in the pre-season games, I wanted to be out there with them and it was tough watching them get a run-out from the stands.”

But then you made a welcome return to action, and featured in the Munster A and B&I Cup games….

“Ya I even got to return to my home club Clonmel RFC when we took on Leinster A. That was my first time back there in around four years so it was brilliant to play in front of the local support and catch up with all my old friends.”

“We’ve a great squad of players with the A team and I think we’re doing really well at the moment, we just need to be careful against this Ulster side on Saturday – they put out quality players week in and week out.”

“I’m enjoying my rugby now, when I got that injury it just knocked me back and I was really disappointed, but now as we move towards the end of the season I’m feeling much fitter, and I’ve put on a bit of weight which is good.”

Making your senior debut last Sunday in the Sportsground must have been special….

“It was good to get on the bench last weekend and then it was even better when I got to run out in the Munster jersey. I got on with 30 minutes to go and was surprised because it was a back-row coming off. It was just a case of taking off my drill top, not thinking about it and just getting out there. The physicality and the pace of the game was just another level up.”

“Playing next to Micko was brilliant, as he said himself he started his career 12 years ago and to play next to such a seasoned veteran was a fantastic experience and one that I can only benefit from.”

“I know everyone who wants to make it has to work extremely hard, but when I see what’s ahead of me I know I’ve to work twice as hard. The guys that are there now are world class, and to ever reach that level or get near it is a very difficult task. But all I can do is focus on myself and make sure I do the right things each week, and just do my best so I can continue to go in the right direction.” 

Related articles: “Introducing Dave Foley”.  “Foley Goes Back to his Roots”

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