On the day that he announced he was hanging up his boots, Munster hooker Jerry Flannery spoke to JOE about his decision to retire, his plans for the future and his new-found rivalry with S Club 7.
While the news about Jerry Flannery retiring from rugby today wasn’t a huge shock, the response of the public today on social media to the news indicates just how well loved the Munster man is throughout the country.
JOE grabbed a few minutes with him to discuss his feelings on the day he announced his decison to retire and his plans for the future.
JOE: So Jerry, how are feeling on what must be a difficult day for you?
Jerry Flannery: It’s just something you have to do and get through. Everyone has been very nice to me and while it’s tough to do you have to tell people.
JOE: The response to the news has been huge, how has that made you feel?
JF: I had no expectations to be honest. I’m trying not to read too much into it too much and keep my head together for today and let all that stuff sink in after.
JOE: So tell us how you came to the decision to retire
JF: Obviously I had been struggling for a while. I had an operation before the World Cup and managed to get back and there were times when I thought I would never play again so the fact that I got to the World Cup and played five more Tests for Ireland was something I was incredibly grateful for. I cherished every single moment of that time.
Then I broke down again at the World Cup and while everyone was ‘I can’t believe this has happened to you’ I felt more that injuries happen and I was just glad to have made it back.
I got home then and we had a new physio at Munster, Dave O’Sullivan, and he was a fresh pair of eyes so we just said we would give it another go. I went to Germany, saw Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt (the man who has treated everybody from Michael Owen to Usain Bolt) and it was very good and I came back and began rehabbing.
I started to push it in December and it didn’t really go very well when I tried to replicate match intensity. I was fine for squad sessions but after replicating match intensity my calf was very sore I would be limping for three days. At that stage it was starting to break me and that’s when I started to talk to the medical staff at Munster and I had to think long-term too of life after rugby. And after that medical advice, I had to decide to pack it in.
JOE: How have the lads in the squad reacted today?
JF: The lads have been great and really nice. Munster has played such a huge role in my life and you might fear that when you step out of it things might change and become something you don’t recognise but I am so confident to leave because I can see the young lads coming through with the same ethos.
Jerry wins his second Heineken Cup in 2008
The work ethic, the honesty, people who love playing for Munster because they’re from here, that’s what makes Munster special; all that’s there. You look at the likes of Paddy Butler, Mick Sherry, Simon Zebo, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray these guys, they absolutely love it so Munster is in a good place.
You want to believe that the young lads will value playing for Munster as much as you did and if anything, these guys value it more. They are picking up stuff from the old guys and driving it on and that’s the way it has to go. Munster rugby is in a healthy place.
JOE: So what’s next for Jerry Flannery?
JF: When I came home from the World Cup I applied for a Masters in Sports Performance at UL and that started in February so I have been tipping away at that. Obviously I have the pub on Patrick Street as well to be working in.
I don’t know exactly what I want to do. All I know is that I love rugby. I think I need to take a little bit of time away from it and if it is for me, then hopefully I will be back into rugby one day.
JOE: So looking back what would be your standout career moment?
JF: The obvious ones are the Grand Slam and the Heineken Cups but it’s the small things that stick out too. The banter with the lads, the day in, day out stuff, a bunch of lads working hard and being honest.
When you work hard all week, and then go out at the weekend, get tested and come through and you’re sitting in the dressing room afterwards with your mates that’s such a good feeling and something I will really miss.
It’s putting your body on the line and coming through for your friends, it’s very hard to replicate. I love training and I can keep training but that special bond is very difficult to ever replicate.
JOE: And would trying to recreate that push you towards getting back in the game?
JF: Possibly but I’m quite conscious of not trying to chase things. A lot of players finish up and try to hang around because they are a little bit lost. You ask them what they do and they say they’re ex-professional rugby players. You know, that’s not an actual occupation.
I love rugby and it has given me so much but I think I almost need to go away, up-skill myself, work hard and if I end up back in rugby I can’t think of anything I would enjoy more.
JOE: Any regrets from your playing career?
JF: Injuries. Injuries will do your head in. One of the things I would have loved would have been to play for the Lions. It was always an ambition of mine. I was picked for the initial training camp in 2009 but I broke my elbow there and had to drop out.
But you have to have a bit of perspective. If you said to me when I was seven or eight that I would have played for Munster and for Ireland, and not just play for them but win things with them, and be picked for the Lions, I would have taken the hand off you.
There’s no point looking back at suspensions or injuries or things like that. I had an absolute ball playing. It was incredible. I’m so grateful. The support I received from all the Munster and Irish fans and rugby fans in general has just been unbelievable.
JOE: And now you have a beef with S Club 7
JF: Yeah, I thought it was a little bit selfish of them to announce their reunion today. They could have picked any day but they chose this one. We’ll see how it goes for them, they’ll probably fall out again soon anyway.
JOE: Thanks again Jerry we appreciate you making the time for us today and good luck with your retirement.
JF: No bother, cheers.
And if you want to relive seeing Fla in action on and off the field, here’s five of his finest moments.
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