Corrigan flies the right way

Few are afforded a second chance to rectify a first impression that beggared redemption; even fewer are capable of, and boast the work ethic to, initiate the required transformation. None will have completed the task with the commensurate success of Reggie Corrigan. Next Saturday, the 26-year-old Greystones prop will take his place among the replacements when Ireland face New Zealand at Lansdowne Road, less than six months after hobbling into an interview room at Donnybrook, overweight and out of condition, pleading his case for a part-time Leinster contract.

Provincial coach Mike Ruddock could barely contain his disbelief when presented with the figure of the 19-stone Corrigan, offering the suggestion that he was the victim of a wind-up. But an injury to Paul Flavin, the potential unavailability of Henry Hurley and some diligent research by manager Jim Glennon advanced Corrigan's cause.

Ruddock confessed: "Reggie presented himself with an injured ankle in what could be described as far from ideal condition. We tested him on the weights and he did not do particularly well. In fact, he had to improve appreciably in all areas."

Corrigan was even more forthright: "I was in a terrible condition. I was recovering from an ankle ligament injury I picked up four weeks previously when Clontarf knocked us out of the Leinster Senior Cup. I hadn't done a tap and, to be honest, wasn't in great condition before that.

"I arrived in to the interview on June 1st and Mike (Ruddock) took one look at me and said, `We've got a lot of work to do, boy'."

What followed approaches the realms of fantasy, certainly far exceeding Corrigan's muted expectations: it revealed the player's character, commitment and, unquestionably, his bravery, for he cut away the financial safety net in pursuit of a professional rugby career.

He relinquished his position as a sales representative with a freight company, based at Dublin Airport, to devote his attentions full-time to the sport. "It was certainly a huge risk, but a sacrifice that I believe that was required if I was going to make progress. I gave up a good job, company car and plenty of money, because I knew that if I wanted to make it then I would have to be training five to six hours a day.

"I was prepared to give myself 12 months, and if things did not work out then I would join the job market again."

Corrigan's financial predicament encapsulates the magnitude of his decision. "I had to get on that Leinster team at some stage because I need the money. I had just bought a house and there were bills to be paid. I wasn't going to survive on the £7,500 that the contract paid. I needed the money awarded for appearances and win bonuses. That was enough of an incentive to work hard."

The player pays tribute to the support received from his family and girlfriend, Freda, who was especially supportive of his career change. Once focused on his new objective, Corrigan began the arduous and painful road to fitness. "For the first 10 to 12 weeks, it felt like being in the army, non-stop torture.

"You'd get home at nine o'clock and go straight to bed, then get up the next morning and start all over again. But the saving grace was the sense of achieving something, shoulders getting bigger, legs getting stronger. I was 19-stone when I started, lost two stone of crap, initially, and replaced it with one-anda-half-stone of muscle.

"You would not even contemplate missing training, I never did. It wouldn't be the grief that you would receive, it would be down to personal pride."

There was also the Ruddock factor. "You might arrive at training with a niggle or a touch of 'flu and mention it. The first thing he'd (Ruddock) say is, `Don't go soft on me.' Then you'd feel guilty about mentioning anything in the first place. He was a superb motivator. He's been fantastic. I don't think I would have got anywhere without him"

That Corrigan accomplished the goals set before him is manifest in the speed of his accession to national prominence. No one is more surprised than the player himself. "Mike gave me the chance and I worked hard. That I have come so far in a short space of time amazes me. I can achieve a lot more from the training, maybe even improve by 50 per cent.

"I hadn't done anything before June 1st in comparison to other players. I can't believe how quickly things have improved, it's kind of scary." Those well versed with the player are adamant that he always possessed the ability, if not the inclination.

Educated at Presentation Brothers College, Bray, he enjoyed two years on the Junior Cup team and three on the Seniors. The natural progression was to undertake the short journey to Greystones, where so many of the players he admired in his youth, Nick Popplewell, Paul McNaughton and John Spud Murphy, populated Dr Hickey Park.

By now rugby was his primary sport, having flirted with Gaelic football at Emmet's in Bray where he played fullback and full forward, his prowess acknowledged in trials for the Wicklow Minors. Corrigan graduated to the first team in Greystones aged 20, but, unfortunately, not in his chosen position of loosehead prop.

"Nick (Popplewell) was there at the time so the only experience I got at loosehead was on the seconds. Fortunately they were inclined to find space for me on the firsts: in fact, in Poppy's time there - three years - I have played every position in the pack, bar hooker, in the AIL.

He spent a summer in New Zealand with the Marist St Pat's club in Wellington, where he gained valuable experience, rubbing shoulders with Western Samoan tighthead prop Brendan Reidy and current Moseley hooker Damien Geraghty.

The club operated a rotation system, with players on first team duty once every two weeks no matter how well they were playing. It was there that Corrigan learned the demands of tighthead prop to compliment his knowledge of the other side of the front row.

On his return to Ireland, he quickly established that events at Dr Hickey Park had not improved in his favour.

"The problem with Greystones is that it is a small country club, at the time there were no second rows. I had the ability to jump, had good hands from my Gaelic days, so I was an option for the second row. In fairness, we had a good loosehead in Liam Murphy and I was good enough where I was - maybe too good. "Maybe I should have been a bit more selfish then, but when Noel McQuilkin came to the club as coach at the beginning of last season, I had already decided that it was loosehead or bust. It was such a relief to spend a season in my favourite position."

After getting a contract with Leinster last summer, he received specialist instruction from Roly Meates, who, along with McQuilkin, accelerated his development. He began on the bench for his province, but came on as tighthead against Ulster following an injury to Angus McKeen.

He did not play against against Munster, but when Hurley was unavailable because of Moseley commitments, Corrigan was introduced at loosehead for the Connacht game, a position he has conclusively claimed, with the exception of the odd cameo at tighthead. He prefers the role of loosehead, but would play on the other side of the front row if required.

`The demands are totally different. At loosehead the emphasis is on strong legs, wide stance and a straight back, driving in at an angle: tighthead, in my opinion, is more difficult, more upperbody strength is required to pin down your opponent and the stance is narrower.

"I was as nervous as hell when I had to switch to tighthead in the European game against Leicester at Donnybrook, but when I actually went in, I was as comfortable as I have ever been at loosehead: perhaps that says something about Graham Rowntree.

McKeen's absence when Leinster travelled to Milan provided Corrigan with another outing at tighthead and a totally different experience when he faced Italian international and Milan captain Franco Properzi. "It was a nightmare, I could not pin him down. I was in serious trouble. He was like Desperate Dan, square jaw and stubble and immensely strong.

"I have faced other international props this season, Rowntree, Darren Garforth and Toulouse's Franck Tournaire, but this guy was definitely the best scrummager. I have worked hard on my technique at tighthead since, and I certainly did not any problems when we faced Milan at Donnybrook, back at loosehead."

Corrigan contributed handsomely to several fine Leinster performances, particularly noticeable in the number of tackles he made and his abrasiveness as a ball carrier. Ruddock has calculated that a team must make 140 tackles in a match, and that most players should make a minimum of 10, with props putting in slightly fewer: Corrigan's figure was significantly higher.

His reward came with an invitation to join the national squad. "I received a phone call on the Tuesday that I was wanted the following day. I was a nervous wreck. It was a daunting first day, even though the guys were brilliant. Woody (Keith Wood) and Paddy Johns were both great in particular, there was no crap.

"I happened to arrive about the same time as Brian Ashton, so I decided I had better go over and introduce myself. He simply said: `I know who you are lad.' For the first three sessions I kept my head down and said nothing, it wasn't until the fourth Wednesday that the awe had gone from the occasion.

"I said to myself, `You are a part of this now and you can be as good as those guys, so give it a lash." It is ironic that Corrigan finds his path to a first cap barred by a friendship that dates back to his Greystones days in Nick Popplewell.

Corrigan feels, though, that he is ready to step into the breach if required on Saturday. "I do get nervous before matches, but I like being like that. I'm not the head-banging type. I like to sit there and think about the game. I also prefer to see the team get together, look each other in the eye and think about all the hard work that we've done. It means more than kicking the shit out of a door.

"From my New Zealand days I know what to expect. Their front row will go in for the big hit on contact, as hard as they can make it. They are not macho scrumaggers. They like the ball in and out quickly. My mind set, once the game starts, will revolve around being called in at tighthead because for me that would be the most difficult thing that could happen.

"If I get the call at loosehead then scrummaging won't be a concern. I will concentrate on doing my job in the lineouts and getting around the pitch to make tackles. It would be daunting taking on the best in the world, but you have to start somewhere. If I get the chance, I'll try and take it."

Ruddock has no doubts: "Reggie has all the ability it takes. He has worked tremendously hard to get where he is and I would have no worries about him playing against the All Blacks."

For now Corrigan must focus on the visit of New Zealand, but tucked away at the back of his mind is a fervent wish for one of the new contracts expected to be announced shortly. Gloucester wait in the shadows. "The bottom line is that I want another season in Ireland, with Leinster, so I hope I get a contract."

The IRFU should oblige; his ability, and dedication, demand as much.