HEAD coach Paul O’Connell has endorsed fellow Limerick man Craig Casey, Shannon RFC, on his role as captain of Ireland in the imminent two-Test Summer Tour of Georgia (Tbliis, Saturday 6pm) and Portugal (Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon July 12).
Casey, 26, is set to become the 112th skipper of Ireland since 1875.
“Craig is a real leader with a strong personality and it is a huge personal honour for him and an opportunity that I know he will relish over the coming weeks,” O’Connell said.
Working alongside O’Connell will be fellow Young Munster prodigy Mike Prendergast (attack), Denis Leamy (defence), and Connacht’s Cullie Tucker (scrum).
Also involved is psychologist Caroline Currid, who was previously attached to All-Ireland winning Limerick Senior Hurling teams.
“Craig would be one of our leaders. He’s full of energy. He’s a student of the game. His leadership, guys will listen because he’s a guy who is incredibly diligent,” Prendergast stated at the departure of the tour group last week.
“He’s all over his stuff and you always want people to follow that. So he hasn’t been any different than what he would be down in Munster.
“Obviously through the week and through next week that will ramp up from his point of view, I would imagine. But he brings a really good calmness to people as well.”
Prenergast concluded: “It’s great to have him as one, within the squad and two, as a captain. So he has all the leadership qualities that you ask for from a person.”
