Paddy McCarthy is one of the young guns making a name in the Ireland U20 Grand Slam winning team at the same time as navigating the real world.
He was speaking with media yesterday thanks to trinity Sport where he is a Rugby Scholar and a first year student studying Global Business Studies.
The Global element will come in handy as he prepares to travel to South Africa next month to compete in the U20 World Championships.
The Business element will also be handy as we saw last week when he was part of the team, and the coaches who enjoyed a day in the offices of sponsor PwC as part of their professional development outside of the rugby world.
McCarthy is a strong player and a competent and confident performer in a setting that is hardly wholly comfortable for one so young.
“We are an ambitious group and while winning the Grand Slam was very special we want more,” he said.
“We have England first, then Australia so it is going to be difficult but this is a huge opportunity for us.”
“Last year the team went into a pared back Championships, also off a Grand Slam and it did not gop as well for them as they had hoped so we are aware of that and will look to be better.”
McCarthy has already secured a Leinster Academy contract for next season, where he could end up playing alongside his brother Nick who is in the extended Ireland squad for this September’s Rugby World Cup.
It won’t deflect him from enjoying his time in Trinity though, and playing a part with the college Energia AIL team.
“I played eight games before Christmas this year and really enjoyed it,” he said.
“You get to play alongside and against other young players on the rise, ex-pro’s and some who may have come up just short of a career at the highest level. It’s very competitive.”
“Ryan Bair won the Trinity Sports Star of the Year award this year and looking at what he has achieved is a great incentive.”
