O’Toole has come a long way to earn his first cap
TOM O’TOOLE’S sporting career path is certainly of the road less travelled variety. This week, the 22-year-old prop was included in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad for the Six Nations but there is nothing straightforward to a story that could have gone in many different directions.
Born in Drogheda, he spent his early years dabbling in Gaelic football and hurling in county Meath before his father’s business took him and the family to the other side of the world. A decade living in Brisbane saw him develop a love of rugby, and his talent was such that he went from being part of an Irish Exiles set-up to putting down roots in Belfast and being capped for Ulster and Ireland U20s.
As Farrell’s squad gears up for Sunday’s opener against Wales at the Principality Stadium, he describes the culture shock of crossing continents. ‘I was born in Drogheda and lived in Ratoath in County Meath until I was six. And then we shifted off to Brisbane. It was supposed to be three years but it ended up being 10 years.
‘Things went well. I had two older brothers and, at the time, we were pretty good with the school playing some rugby over there and enjoying life. It was a pretty attractive place to live but ultimately I wanted to come home. I always wanted to play rugby in Ireland, I wanted to experience schooling here and obviously play schools rugby. It was something that I didn’t think would actually happen, but when the opportunity arose with Ulster, it was an unbelievable opportunity to get.
‘I had a week to decide and I just said, “Look sure I’ll go for it, it’s exactly what I want.” I shifted off to Campbell College, did a couple of years in boarding school there.
‘It was unbelievable. Brian Robinson the ex-Ireland international, was my coach so it was a lovely two years. I really loved Belfast; it became home quite quickly.’
New Zealand are currently leading the way in the conversation about sport and specialisation, whether kids should stick to just one thing from a young age or benefit from a range of different activities. O’Toole is just one example of why the second approach can work best.
‘When I was younger I was mostly playing football and hurling. My Dad is a Dub so he was into his football. But as soon as I went to Brisbane, it just opened up. I had an opportunity to play a lot of sports, such as volleyball, basketball, so skills came into place from a young age. Ultimately, with my body shape I think rugby naturally took over when I was about 10. I realised that was what I wanted to do, that would be my main sport.’
He admits it was a big culture shock to go from a Brisbane beach to Belfast after he came on to the radar for the Ulster academy, returning to Ireland and linking up with Campbell College.
But for an ankle injury and surgery, his Ireland career would have been fast-tracked. Now he feels ready to seize the opportunity. ‘Look, I think Andy’s a very intelligent coach so I don’t think he would bring me in, especially when there’s only five props, if he didn’t believe in me. His belief gives me an extreme amount of belief in myself, and confidence.
‘Obviously I haven’t played international, I haven’t been capped before so it’s one of those areas where it’s a bit unknown.
‘But I think with myself, compared to being in the camp last year, the transition and the growth I’ve had within the year, and the people around me, I think if I do get the opportunity I’ll be ready to perform.’