How Bowe traded his boots for a microphone

TOMMY Bowe was used to performing in front of the cameras during his illustrious playing career.

He’s still doing so today, but now it’s a whole new ball game.

Having hung up his boots last year, the former Ospreys favourite has moved into the media back home in Ireland.

It’s been no gentle switch to punditry either. He’s gone straight into a presenting role with Dublin-based broadcasters Eir Sport.

He fronted their coverage of the Guinness PRO14 last season and will be doing the same during the Rugby World Cup, for which the company has the TV rights in Ireland.

“I am really enjoying it,” declared the 69-times capped winger.

“It’s a completely new challenge. I am trying to learn a whole new skillset.

“But when you leave rugby, I think that’s what you have to do. You have to challenge yourself and find your kicks in other ways.

“Running out on to the Aviva Stadium or the Millennium Stadium, you are never going to get that buzz again.

“But, see, when they are in your ear saying ‘On air in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...’ it’s a new adrenaline rush and something I am really enjoying.

“Why not jump into the deep end? It’s the dream. That’s what I wanted to do.

“To get in to try and do something like that straight out of retirement, what an opportunity.”

The 35-year-old says his new challenge has also given him a fresh insight into the role of the media.

“Unbelievably so, it has,” he confirms.

“It’s opened up that world in what the media is and trying to form a story, because all we want to do is give the people at home something worth watching, something that’s interesting.

“I can understand now why journalists want to get a bit of inside information and get the truth because that’s interesting and the people at home want to hear what’s actually going on.

“In a sense, me being friendly and knowing the guys, I think people open up to me and can give me a little bit more of an honest opinion on things, which is something I hope I can bring to the people at home.”

Bowe will be in people’s front rooms a lot this autumn, with pay-TV channel Eir Sport being the rights-holding broadcaster for the World Cup in the Republic of Ireland.

They will show all 48 games live from Japan, which means a busy time ahead for their anchor man.

“It’s going to be huge,” he said.

“I am fronting the house, so it’s going to be a challenging couple of months ahead.

“We are going to do most of it from Dublin. If Ireland go far in the competition, hopefully we will get out to be there.

“But there are so many matches, pretty much two every day, it’s going to be a big work-load.”

With such a hectic time ahead, it was all the more impressive that Bowe