Monivea club celebrate young star’s matchwinning display for Connacht

Mentors at Monivea Rugby Club knew one of their own, rising star Caolin Blade, would be razor sharp in his first senior start for Connacht at the weekend.

But they couldn’t have predicted just how good the young scrum-half would be – scooping the man-of-the-match award having handsomely contributed to a shock away win at the Stade Jean Dauger.

The 20-years-old Connacht Academy graduate, who made his debut in a ten minutes cameo off the bench against Ospreys last season, scored two tries on his first senior start against Bayonne in the Challenge Cup.

For the first, he was in the right place at the right time, to finish off a great-line break from Darragh Leader. For the second, which crucially hauled Connacht level two minutes from full-time, Blade showed a killer instinct and bravery, and used his low centre of gravity, to pounce for the line off the base of a ruck. Connacht held on for a 29-27 famous victory.

The Monivea man and past pupil of Presentation College, Athenry comes from a family steeped in sporting tradition, including rugby and hurling. An accomplished and promising hurler and Gaelic footballer for Abbeyknockmoy, Blade is now focused on professional rugby and the ultimate goal of representing Ireland at senior.

Blade was always an out-half at underage but he was convinced by the experts and coaches at Connacht to convert to a number nine, a role they reckoned he’d be more suited to.

And one which runs in the family: His father, Pat, was a scrum-half for Monivea RFC; so too his older brother Darren, who also plays full-back; while another brother, Eoin, is another up-and-coming scrum-half for the junior club.

Blade’s game has improved immeasurably since featuring for the Connacht Eagles this year, and according to Monivea RFC Treasurer, Pádraic McGann, the best is yet to come.

“That boy has only got one thing on his mind and that’s to play for Ireland. That boy is special – he’s the real deal. He’s gifted,” said McGann.

“He’s been with us since he’s a young lad. You can spot the talent even when they’re aged seven. He was a real talent but not everyone makes it. He’s got everything it takes. He’s got everything: He’s got the guts, he has the skill, the speed.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.