Move was 100% a rugby decision admits JJ Hanrahan

I suppose it’s probably been about six to eight weeks of a timeline. Conversations first started with Munster in terms of my decision and letting them know that I was interested in places further afield maybe eight weeks ago. Then the news broke in the media which left me with a decision of four weeks, I had nothing signed at that stage, or anything like that. I took a lot of advice and opinion before that, but then for four weeks it was basically just me thinking, talking to no one, and waking up every morning seeing what way my head was. I stopped listening to other people and start listening to myself, where you I saw myself in the future. Up until the Zebre week, that’s when my decision was going to be made. That’s the timeline that was given and that’s when I made my decision, that week. Like everything, you’re to-ing and fro-ing in your head. It’s like everything – you have a decision to make, but up to the last minute you’re still kind of going, ‘is this the right thing?’ There’s still something gnawing at you, but you have to back your own decision, back yourself, and believe that you have it in yourself and make that call.

Absolutely, fully comfortable. The longer the time goes on and the more I’m kind of sinking into it. In any big life decision… I suppose you could use the example of breaking up with a girlfriend. It might be for the best but at the time you’re still disappointed. You’re better down the line, you know what I mean? At the time, you’re disappointed when you make the decision because you’re Munster growing up, you want to be there and you’ve seen a big future. Obviously your dreams are playing for Munster, but when you make your decision, you base it on what’s best for your career or your development going forward. That’s what I made my decision on -what’s best for me going forward, my career development and where you want to be. I’m incredibly ambitious and that’s what my decision was based on.

It’s always nice to get support like that. When someone of his calibre, experience and what he’s played, the amount of games, obviously being a Munster legend, when he supports your decision it’s nice to get that backing. But at the end of the day whatever way it went, with people not supporting me, people confused, people angry, people happy that I’m leaving, whatever way it went, ultimately I was going to make my decision for myself and back myself. It does make it easier when people back your or say you’re doing the right thing, back your decision, but I didn’t know what way people were going to react to it. I was just going with what I felt was the best thing for me.

I suppose it was unknown when I went to secondary school in Rockwell, it was unknown when I went to the Munster academy; there’s a lot of unknowns in life. It’s the next step, the next progression of my career. I like to think I’m quite a friendly fella, so I like to think I’ll be able to get on with people there just as much as anywhere else.

You can’t really say it’s based on any one factor. Throughout the process you’re weighing up different things from all sides of it. Ultimately, it’s what I felt was best for my career and where my career development and progress could be. I suppose I see myself, at the moment, the best way for my development would be in Northampton next year in terms of opportunities to play, opportunity in terms of the new challenge, new environment. I suppose becoming a stronger character as well. Going into a new environment like that, you have to become a really strong character. If you’re ambitious to play for Ireland and have ambitions of playing for Ireland, you have to be a strong character and mentally tough. I suppose it’ll develop that side of the game as well.

There is never assurances anywhere you go. It would be wrong to ask for assurance, I’d never ask for guarantees anywhere. You just can’t do that, do you know what I mean? You just have to back yourself and make a decision. There is never assurances of games. God forbid something could happen over there, injuries in preseason and all that. It doesn’t seem like it’s the best thing to do, but you have just got to go over there trust yourself, trust your ability and just try and play the best you can.

You are quintessential Munster man, what was the reaction like from people?

Yeah there has been a mixture of reactions, but the people that really matter to me are my family, my close friends and that’s the people opinion’s that matter to me. They are the people who I really seek guidance in. They understand my reasons for leaving and it has been very very positive form their point of view. I suppose the one thing my mother is happy about is Kerry to Luton is a good flight, so it’s only ten minutes down the road so.

Was the lack of time at 10 a reason to leave?

There is no secret to know that my favourite position to play, where I think I can add most of my game is at 10. It’s where I think of going forward in my career and it is where I can add most value to myself and to other teams is playing at 10. It’s a factor, it’s one of many. It’s something that I think I train constantly as a 10, I think as a 10, I drive play as a 10. It’s something, going forward, that I think I can add most, that’s where my ability comes out, that’s where I could be best used in the future yeah.

Was Saints’ style of rugby an attraction?

Yeah, Northampton play a nice brand of rugby but Munster do as well you know. I know it mightn’t have been seen at the weekend but I think that was just one of them days where the team just didn’t turn up as a whole. But Munster played a lot of nice rugby this year and Northampton definitely play a good brand of rugby. There is some very quality players in their team and it’s a number of factors, it’s not just one. It would be nice to play in a quality side like that.

Is there a danger of being, out of sight out of mind?

It doesn’t bother me. It was something that I really weighed up. The way I see it is that you have to be playing to be in the reckoning for Ireland, and that’s the main thing. It’s about playing, do you know what I mean? Out of sight, out of mind it may be, but there is also numerous players who went away learned their trade and then came back. I can name them if you want me to, but the Eoin Reddans, players like him who went away, came back and are now international players. Tommy Bowe did it as well. So look, if it works out like that for me then great, but at this moment in time I have made my decision in what’s best for my development. I am still developing and I am not the finished article yet. There is a long way to go. Luckily I’m 22 years of age so there is a long way to go in my career yet. So there is a lot that happens so we’ll see how it goes.

Could Munster be in your future?

Absolutely. Like I said, it’s probably more of a see you soon rather than goodbye for good, you know.

Was this a 100% rugby decision?

Oh 100 per cent a rugby decision. That’s all it’s ever based on. Completely. It’s all it’s about, at this stage,  rugby. Like I said, I have huge ambitions for Ireland, I have huge ambitions for my career, I am very driven and focused person. It’s the only thing that’s driving me is where I can best develop myself and where I can become the best player that I can be. That’s what it’s all about, is becoming the best player that I can be. That’s all it’s about.

Was Munster’s offer satisfactory?

Yeah, look I was in a very privileged position to be offered two very good contracts, both Munster and Northampton. Look, Munster were great throughout all this, but at the end of the day it was just my decision based on what I thought was best for my future.

Did you seek much advice from other players?

Like I said at the start I took advice from a close group of friends, family, some senior players. At the start I got their opinion on it. Okay basically to see am I absolutely crazy here, is my thinking right? Maybe it was like a bit of a fear factor in there, but the last four weeks basically sat in bed every morning, for two minutes, thinking, okay, where is my head at? I did that for about four weeks in a row and eventually came to my decision.

When was your first thought of going abroad? Was it in the last year?

I’d say yeah, it’s always been something in my head that I think I’m very open to new experiences and developing, not only from rugby, but life experiences as well. I’d be very open to new environments in rugby, new styles in rugby and different cultures. I know England is not far away, it’s not France or that, but there is a definitely a different rugby culture there. It’ll be interesting to learn a new league, new players, new coaches and I suppose there is always something that was maybe in my mind, but probably came a bit sooner than I had planned.