Garry Ringrose praises rugby's progress as he overcomes concussion battles
Michael Bolton
Having missed out in 2017 and 2021, Garry Ringrose finally got the call-up he deserved to the British and Irish Lions.
In what was a long time coming, the Leinster and Ireland centre has been the main man at 13 for his province and country for almost a decade.
However, in what must have been an extremely difficult decision to make, Ringrose removed himself from the side for the second test after suffering effects from a concussion he sustained in training.
Speaking at the announcement from the Laya Arena, Ringrose praised how far rugby has come that he was able to make this decision.
"I just got a bang in training in the lead up to the game, I just knew I wasn't right.
"It is a credit to the coaches and doctors who were there; they created an environment if that's the case, you speak up.
"You only want the best for the team at the end of the day, and that is the position I was in. I just said to them I wasn't quite right to be able to play and help the team win over the weekend.
"It speaks volumes of the coaches and the medics that were there. Even the players, no one really bats an eyelid as well."
Following further tests, Ringrose thankfully suffered no long-term effects from the tour.
"I am thankfully in the clear and good to play again. That is leaning on the medical team; you do the right thing, and they want you to do the right thing as well.
"I was over in the UK talking to people, making sure everything is okay and good to go, been fine from that perspective.
"I don't think I ever took any opportunity for granted, but when you go through these experiences, you certainly try and appreciate it and soak up every second."
It was a mixed November for Ireland and Ringrose, as Andy Farrell's men lost two out of their four games, with Ringrose missing the wins over Japan and Australia due to a hamstring injury.
The series ended with a chaotic 24-13 defeat to South Africa, which saw Ireland face several challenges, including being reduced to 12 men at one stage.
With the refereeing decisions coming under the microscope, particularly during the scrum. Another controversial moment was a high tackle by South Africa's fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on Tommy O'Brien, which Ringrose admitted he got animated about.
"I was probably a bit animated after that and should have checked on Tommy to make sure he was alright, and thankfully he was.
"I did a high shot against Wales in the Six Nations and got the card and stuff. It is a tough spot for referees to be in. There is the blessing and the curse of being able to slow it down and look at loads of different replays; it is a tough gig being a ref.
"I don't think I would last long if I were in the middle, so I do feel for them in that perspective."
In the last year, Ireland has lost at home to New Zealand, France, and South Africa by double-digit scores, and a World Cup is just under two years away, with a squad with a lot of miles on the clock.
After some huge provincial games and European fixtures, Ireland face France in Paris to get their Six Nations underway, with memories of the win away two years ago a highlight since the 2023 World Cup.
Despite Ireland's form, Ringrose is not worried and can see the positives.
"‘Nothing about any result or win has felt routine. It takes a huge amount of effort and preparation, and you can’t fake caring and working, then for those 80 minutes and give your absolute all for it.
"So like no win I’ve ever had has ever, kind of, felt routine. The games fall on such fine margins that on the ones that go wrong, they may be enlarged and made bigger on those fine margins, and then when we win, sometimes it’s easy from the outside to gloss over it.
"I think these are the games that have fallen on such fine margins, certainly in Chicago, if one or two things had gone differently, it could have been a different result, and I think equally on the weekend. So yeah, I wouldn’t overthink massively."
