'Hell of a lot more': Ireland’s Jack Conan 'didn't grasp' injury-ruined 2019 Rugby World Cup

Jack Conan admits the 2023 World Cup means a “hell of a lot more” after conceding he perhaps “didn’t grasp the magnitude” of representing Ireland on the biggest stage four years ago.

The 31-year-old Leinster back-rower feels he has unfinished business at the tournament following his injury-ruined trip to Japan in 2019.

He came off the bench in Ireland’s opening win over Scotland in Yokohama but then suffered a stress fracture in his foot ahead of the shock defeat to the host nation, in which he had been due to start.

Conan acknowledges the forthcoming competition in France is likely to be his final World Cup and says injury setbacks have given him greater appreciation of opportunities at the top level.

“I think every injury changes you,” he said, ahead of Saturday’s warm-up clash with Italy in Dublin.

“For the most part it changes you in a good way. It definitely tests your perseverance and your mental fortitude.

“Bowing out on that stage in the World Cup and getting injured just makes you so much hungrier to do it again and be back there and get another shot at it.

“Not that I wasn’t grateful four years ago, maybe I just didn’t grasp the magnitude of playing for Ireland in a World Cup.

“But I think because of the experiences I had in Japan they definitely make me appreciate the position I’m in at the moment.

“Hopefully I can take that into the next few weeks and it definitely means a hell of a lot more to me now.”

Conan flew home the day after sitting out Ireland’s 19-12 loss to the Brave Blossoms in Shizuoka and was subsequently ruled out for up to six months.

His length recovery period coincided with the start of the coronavirus pandemic and he did not pull on the green jersey again until February 2021.

From that major low and wondering if his international career may be over, he was then selected for that year’s British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa and has become a regular in an impressive Ireland squad, who are top of the world rankings following a series success in New Zealand and a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam.

“It was a big thing to overcome, the injury itself,” continued Conan, who has scored nine tries in 38 caps. “There was no guarantee I would come back from it.

“There are a lot of lads who retired from the same injury – not that it ever got to that point – but you knew it was going to be a physically and mentally testing journey from the outset.

“There was definitely a period in that time where you think, ‘Jesus, it is so difficult to get back’.

“The whole world was locked down so I wasn’t feeling too sorry for myself but it was a long journey and times when you thought you won’t get back in.

“I definitely feel like I haven’t had the opportunity to perform on the world stage.

“Obviously I’ve played in the Six Nations and stuff, New Zealand last year and whatever else, but the World Cup is definitely something special. With my age profile, I’m not sure I will be knocking around in four years’ time.”