Kieran Campbell, London Irish Mini, Professional, Ulster and Connacht

You are a former London Irish Mini and Youth player who went on to achieve International representative honours, making your debut for Ireland on the tour to Japan in 2005. What are your earliest memories of London Irish junior rugby, the mini festivals, youth tours and being selected for England at Under 16s and Under 18s?

I have great memories of my earliest times with the minis at London Irish. My father, Tom, took me to my first session on the pitches behind the main stand at Sunbury with Tom Cushion and Des O'Brien giving me my introduction to rugby, and from there I was hooked. I loved going to Sunbury and have many friends who have been lifelong buddies who I still keep in touch with today. The mini festivals were really good fun, getting to enjoy being together and I think we all got a big kick out of competing and the rivalry which would build up with certain teams throughout the years. However, my favourite memories at that age will always be of the London Irish mini festival and playing on the 1st xv pitch at Sunbury. It always felt like the main event in the calendar when playing junior rugby.

I can only remember two tours both of which were to Ireland and to Dublin and Limerick respectively. I am not too sure who enjoyed the tours more, the parents or the players? There was plenty of fun and good rugby. In Dublin we played St Michaels I remember that being a really tough game which they edged and I guess is notable now as they are the key school which supplies the Leinster 1st xv with players. On the tour to Limerick, we were a little older and probably just as well. It was a really fun tour, but being Limerick, it also introduced us all to aspects of rugby on and off the pitch which was preparing us for some of the more colourful sides of the game to! All part of the journey, I guess!
Being selected for England at u16 & u18 was great recognition for the effort put into me by my parents and coaches during my formative years at London Irish and also at Gunnersbury school. I was delighted to represent them and of course to be recognised to play representative rugby. It is difficult now to remember detail of the games and camps at that time, but I enjoyed the competitive training sessions before selection at Castlecroft in Wolverhampton and getting to perform in junior internationals. I think one of my favourite junior internationals was at Castlecroft against Scotland because I got to share it with family, friends, coaches from London Irish and teachers from school. It was one of the few times when everyone was able to be together and enjoy a game. I scored too so that was an added bonus!

In those early days at London Irish mini and youth rugby who were the coaches that influenced you and what was it about them that inspired you?

In my early years it was Tom Cushion, Des O'Brien and Mark Tanner. All of whom had a significant influence on me and I am extremely grateful to them for their impact with me. However, I can't say anyone had a bigger influence then my Dad, Tom Campbell, who coached me from u10 with Howard Amor and Martin Duggan. I am indebted to Dad for what I have achieved in rugby and now I am coaching he is still regularly ready to keep me on point. I also still talk to Simon's father Howard and he still passes on pearls of wisdom. As I always said to him, he was ahead of his time! Martin was the steel in the coaching group and was always at hand to stir up the emotion and passion before games

You made your debut at scrum half for London Irish on 17th May 1998 against Leicester; Simon Amor was fly half that day and Adrian Flavin made his debut from the bench. Leicester needed a win to capture the league title and as Adrian has said, the result did not go London Irish’s way.
Tell us about how you felt making your debut, particularly in a team with two other players who had also come through London Irish junior rugby?

I was extremely proud to make my debut. As a mini watching the senior games you always hoped you would get an opportunity to play for the 1st xv. It was extra special that it was with two guys I had grown up with and great that it would be at Sunbury. There was obviously also a nervousness. I remember, due to how the changing rooms were at that time at Sunbury, you couldn't fail to bump into the opposition and of course they had some pretty notable operators who were all too prepared to intimidate in Martin Johnson, Graham Rowntree etc., and of course a few guys who were only happy to share their mind such as Austin Healey. However, I loved getting the opportunity to run out and play against top players for the club you grew up in what was a brilliant experience. The result didn't go our way, but at that time we were improving and we did beat them the following season at Sunbury.

You were a member of Ireland’s Under-19 Rugby World Championship winning team with Adrian Flavin. Tell us what that experience was like?

Incredible experience and one of the most enjoyable rugby experiences I had. We had a great camaraderie and team spirit built up in the group by Declan Kidney and thanks in main part to the rampaging loosehead at the time Andy O'Brien. We still meet up annually to enjoy each other’s company at an international in Dublin. Quiet affairs obviously!

I think we were definitely a team which played for each other and had a great belief in our ability to succeed. There were big moments against South Africa and the drama which ensued post that game and our qualification for the semi-final. The Argentinian game was a really tough physical battle in torrential rain; it should have suited them as they were a big team, but a battle almost suited us due to the spirit and robust attitude of the playing group. We relished that type of game. However, I will always enjoy the memories of the final in Toulouse and the last few minutes of the game when we knew we had won. We had gone into the final as huge underdogs, but played really well and built a really good lead which gave us a cushion to enjoy closing out the game. The chance to actually enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy just being on the pitch with friends leading into the final whistle was great!

You went on to play for Ulster and Connacht and scored a memorable try against Stade Francais in 2004. What other standout memories do you have of the big nights at Ravenhill and the Galway Sportsground?

The biggest thing in Ravenhill is European nights. I think because they are largely played on Friday nights under lights it brings a special atmosphere and the crowd in Ulster are extremely passionate so it all comes together to create a real cauldron to play in. As you have mentioned the performance against Stade Francais was memorable and a special game for me individually, but we always seemed to play above the sum of our parts at Ravenhill, beating really good premiership sides like Saracens and French teams like Toulouse. However, probably my other most memorable experience with Ulster was winning the Celtic League in 2006 against the Ospreys in the Liberty Stadium and another London Irish old boy David Humphreys kicking a drop goal to win the title with nearly the last kick of the game. We were blessed the ball hit the post and the cross bar before going over, but fortunately it dropped on the right side.

At Connacht the derby nights for me brought the best atmosphere. The crowd seemed to really drive the team on those evenings and this made the atmosphere unique. I really enjoyed what was my last professional game at Connacht as it was against Leinster on a really warm spring evening. I had only beaten and drawn with Leinster once during 9 seasons playing against them and it was the first time I played in a team which really got the upper hand against them. We played really well that evening and beat Leinster by a good score. It was a nice way to finish playing professionally.

You had a successful coaching career with Ulster Academy and as Academy Manager, then Ireland Under 20s head coach, tell us about your new role next season at Ealing Trailfinders, where you will join up with Ben Ward, another former London Irish Mini and Youth player.

I am really looking forward to linking up with Ben at Ealing Trailfinders. Like me he is an ex-London Irish mini and youth player which is great and has been on a tremendous journey in building Ealing Trailfinders up into a really strong club. I am delighted he has given me an opportunity to come into his set up as an assistant coach with the senior team and excited about becoming part of the club’s journey in reaching the premiership. They are really ambitious and I think under Ben's direction will continue to be successful.

What advice would you give to aspiring Rugby players today?

Enjoy playing. We all play the game because we love it and enjoy the camaraderie and friendships. Be passionate about improving your personal performance and relish competition as it will bring the best out of you.

Tell us about Ardara and the likelihood of Donegal producing another Ireland International?

Ardara is where my father is from in Donegal. It is a small village in West Donegal. It was where we nearly always went on holiday as a family every summer to visit my grandparents on Front Street. My brother and I used to love going there as you had the freedom of the village and through playing Gaelic with the local lads we got know plenty of guys, so it was always great to meet up with them every summer. I think as we got older, we also got to appreciate some of the other fun to be had as our relatives owned bars in the town and still do. So fair to say Ardara has many fond memories. Will Donegal produce an international? I hope so, there have been three recent lady internationals, Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon and Laura Feely- apologies to anyone I missed (you may have to be careful telling my family they can't claim me) and there are strong links to clubs, like Letterkenny, which are producing excellent underage players. It is still a growing sport in Donegal with Gaelic Football the main team game played by young boys and girls. Hopefully in the near future it will produce an international and pave the way for future players.

Mini rugby is played on Sunday mornings at 10am at Hazelwood the home of London Irish. If you are inspired by Kieran's story and want to get involved you can find all the information you need in the Mini, Youth, Membership and Contact sections of the website.

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