YEAR NOT MCNUL & VOID
ORAN MCNULTY struck it lucky by taking an early Bath – just as the Covid19 crisis was getting a grip in Ireland.
Mcnulty made his mark in the impressive start to the under-20 Six Nations with victories over Scotland, Italy and England.
That was just before rugby shut down – and Mcnulty and his team-mates have been dealing with the disappointment of not finishing off a possible Grand Slam campaign.
A week before lockdown the English-born full-back, whose father Dermot hails from Cork, was dispatched by Connacht to the family home in Bath.
The IRFU have confirmed that a return to training won’t happen on Monday and it will be next month before the players are further informed. Mcnulty is among many playing a waiting game.
Academy boss Eric Elwood has kept in touch and Rugby Players Ireland have assisted.
“Eric knows I have to plan my flights to get over so he’s letting me know what things are like there,” said Mcnulty.
“He’s someone who goes the extra mile for you and pushes you. It’s appreciated.
“But I’m lucky I came home, otherwise I’d have been alone in a house in Galway for the entire time.
“Some of the lads in Dublin haven’t got gym facilities or don’t have pitches nearby, but I’ve got my three brothers to help me train – and we live two minutes from a rugby pitch, which has stayed open.
“I also have a gym at home. It’s something we’ve always had – at school I was into cross-fit, and we bought a few things through the years so I have a bar bell and a few weights. It’s grand, it’s worked out in that way.”
Having cured his initial homesickness when he moved to Galway, Mcnulty is now itching for a return.
However, the scheduled dates for the under-20 World Cup have also been and gone.
And, at AIL level, his Galway Corinthians saw their hopes of promotion to Division 2A scuppered as the season was wrapped up after 14 games.
He played in the first six games of the season and was last week named the AIL Energia Rising Star in Division 2B.
But none of it is ideal for a 20-year-old entering his third year in the Connacht Academy.
He is optimistic that this “nightmare” time could give way to a busy period before 2020 ends.
If Test rugby returns in the autumn, it could spark an intensive period of international rugby.
That could open the door with Connacht.
“Do I see it as an opportunity? Yeah, absolutely,” admitted the promising fullback.
“Just like for the World Cup, a few internationals were away and some lads were able to come through, so definitely you could be a part of the squad. Fingers crossed.”