EXCLUSIVE:Rob Kearney reflects on life, his career, Irish rugby, and politics

You are the Audi ambassador. How did that come about?

I have been with Audi for eight or nine years now. You have a few partnerships with brands and you try and keep them as long as you can and build up a good relationship with them.

You must fear getting into accidents because of this?

You always fear getting into an accident, don’t you? But they are safe cars and I’m a good driver, I think. I don’t worry too much about it.

How’s the injury?

It’s really good. It’s fourteen weeks post-surgery so I did iso-kinetic testing the other night to ensure that my left bicep strength is the same as the right. I wouldn’t have been allowed back to playing if there was more than a ten percent deficit. I’ve got my strength back to where it was pre-surgery so I’m fit and ready.

Is it difficult missing out on the Lions tour because of injury?

Any injury is tough, but you get used to it throughout your career — missing games for Leinster, missing games for Ireland, you know. The last time I watched the Lions without having been a part of it was twelve years ago. So it was pretty tough. It is the pinnacle of a player’s career to get selected for the Lions. But you just turn into a supporter and cheer them on.

You decided not to tag along with the Lions as a spectator. Why not?

We only get four weeks holiday a year so for me, when I get injured, it’s a really good opportunity to get away from rugby, to refresh your mind, to renew your different interests. I spend time with family and friends and just get away from it all.

What has been the highpoint of your career?

2009 was a massive year. We won the Grand Slam for the first time in 64 years as an Irish team. Then Leinster won our first Heineken Cup and I got to selected for my first British and Irish Lions tour. It will be tough to surpass that.

How about the lowest?

It has to be injury-related. In 2011, I was out for nine months. I missed a huge amount of rugby. Leinster won the Heineken Cup. It’s fantastic watching your own team win trophies, but knowing you’re not a part of it can be tough.

With a big injury how do you fill your non-rugby time?

You don’t have a huge amount of non-rugby time because you’re training and re-habing really hard. You’re in the gym three or four hours a day. I went back to college and started an MBA the year I got injured. It helped to channel my energy into achieving something else.

How did your involvement in the pub come about?

Me, my brother Dave, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Noel Anderson who is the MD are involved. I’d been friendly with Noel for about five years and we were always on the look-out for a premises. This place came up and it was just perfect — in between the RDS and the Aviva. We all come in here on a weekly basis for food, or to catch up, or for meetings.

What’s your rugby schedule like?

We train Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The only time we’re free to do things is generally Wednesdays. More often than not you play on a Saturday.

How strict is your diet?

It’s really strict. We get dexa scans three or four times a year, which is to determine your bone density, your muscle mass, and your fat mass. We have targets on a monthly basis so there’s no hiding really.

That level of scrutiny must be difficult.

It is, but that’s our job. We’re fighting so hard to get one percentage gains every single day, every single month. You’re competing with own team-mates for a place, but also the opposition team as well.

Do you still live with Dave?

He’s in the process of moving out. But we’re very close. We play different positions. He’s very chilled out, so there’s never any animosity or rivalry.

You have U2’s ‘Beautiful Day’ on your Spotify playlist. Why that U2 song in particular?

It’s just a great song. It’s a happy, driving song. U2 are the longest-standing music band in the history of music. Plus they’re Irish. If I were to pick my top ten favourite songs, U2 would have to be in there.

I noticed you picked The Coronas as well.

Everyone I put on the list, I’ve seen at a gig. The Coronas are a great Irish band. Coldplay are probably my favourite, along with Mumford & Sons. I’ve seen both of them countless times.

Do you go to a lot of gigs?

I go during the summer because we don’t have games. If there’s a gig on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening you might get to go. You can’t go to any Thursday, Friday or Saturday gigs because they are too close to the game. You can’t go out late because you need to recover after training.

You must watch a lot of TV!

I wouldn’t be a huge man for television. I am a House of Cards fan, Breaking Bad, I liked Narcos. But I prefer going to the cinema to relax.

Can you go out without being recognised?

In Ireland, rugby is so big. Being recognized is part of your job and I suppose you can only be complimented by it.

Do you worry about being an object of scrutiny for the tabloids?

When you’re in the position like we are, you have a bit of a responsibility. When I was younger I used to look up to every single one of the Irish team – so anyone who plays for Ireland is a role-model for younger kids

What were you like at school?

Studious, without being overly intelligent – or naughty. I was very lucky. I went to a really great school, Clongowes Wood in Kildare. I had some great friends and we got really well educated. We had brilliant sports every day. I loved my time there.

You started off playing GAA.

I played a huge amount of Gaelic football – more than I did rugby – growing up, but rugby was always my first love and the sport I wanted to play. The day I signed my Academy contract, I was told that I had to give up Gaelic football. You have to commit totally to the one sport. I came straight out of boarding school and went into the semi-professional structure. You’re playing rugby every day, training with some of the top players, and some of your heroes. It is a brilliant feeling.

Did the training affect your social life?

It had a massive effect on my social life. I didn’t enjoy college like all of my friends. I didn’t go on J1s or any of those holidays away. But these are sacrifices I was more than happy to make and I’m delighted I did now.

No getting sick on Leeson Street for you?

No, no. Not in those days.

Only these days?

Yeah!

Are there any social or political issues that are important to you?

I don’t think so. I’m sure I have opinions on everything, but there is nothing that I would feel overly strongly about.

Do you have a position on repealing the 8th amendment?

It’s something that a lot of people feel strongly about. I think we do need to change. Time does go on and we need to stay up with the times. I know we’ll have a referendum on it next year. Leo Varadkar has put it quite high up on his list. I just think that second time around we’ll give it an awful lot more thought, and people will be a lot more educated (in their voting).

What are your hopes for your future?

I have learnt over the last number of years that there are so many different variables that can determine your future — injury, selection, contract lengths. My sole priority at the moment is to get my body in a really good place that I’m fit and I can play games on a week-to-week basis. Long term, I’d like to get to another World Cup. But there’s so much that could happen before then.

Are there changes you’d like to see in Irish rugby?

I think the Irish rugby governing body are doing really well at the moment. You want your best players playing at home in Ireland and you want your top teams competing on a European level, and over the last decade that’s been happening. It’s a testament to how well-run Irish rugby is.

You’ve experienced the haka up close. What’s that like?

It is one of the great moments in sport. Everyone loves the haka. The first time is always a little bit surreal. I’ve played New Zealand eight or nine times. As times goes on, you start to enjoy it a little bit more.

Who are the toughest team to play against?

It has to be the All Blacks. One game I played in, we were beaten 60 points to nil. That’s pretty embarrassing! You don’t like losing, but worse than losing is losing really, really badly!