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Joey Carbery: 'I'm better than I was treated'
By Ian Cameron
Former Ireland and Munster flyhalf Joey Carbery has heavily implied that he left both the national side and his province on a sour note in an interview with Irish media.
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Carbery has left Munster to pursue a career in France with Top 14 heavyweights Bordeaux, who finished third last season.
Once seen as the successor in waiting to Johnny Sexton, Carbery’s career took a slow nose dive after an interprovincial transfer to Munster from Leinster after a significant amount of pressure to move from then Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, who was eager for the Carbery to get more game time.
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With Sexton at ten, Carbery was often found at 15 for Leinster. With the IRFU understandably keen for the Carbery to spread his wings as a flyhalf, the then 22-year-old agreed to what was one of the most high-profile switches in Irish interprovincial history.
Things, however, didn’t go to plan in Limerick. Injury initially hampered game time for the New Zealand-born playmaker, before a preference for the emerging talents of both Jack Crowley and Ben Healey eventually left Carbery a third choice at the province.
Now – in an interview with Irish radio station Newstalk – Carbery has confirmed that things didn’t end well at Munster, something many fans would have openly speculated was the case.
“It was kind of at the end of the 2023 season, when I didn’t get picked for the World Cup and the Six Nations [before that].
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“I wasn’t enjoying it [rugby] at all and I was like ‘Is it worth it?’ Was it worth all the hard work?
“I suppose I’ve always played my best when I’ve enjoyed it and went into work with a smile on my face. And then I wasn’t enjoying it. I don’t think it [quitting rugby] was ever a realistic option as I had a year left on my contract with Munster.
“I had an inkling that I had another few options coming up where I could get a fresh start.”
Carbery says he is now eager to ‘prove people wrong’ upon his reassignment to the southwest of France.
“I do think I’m better for it, I do think this opportunity has come around and I don’t think it would have had that not happened.
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“I’m only 28 so I’m trying to use this as a springboard to kick-start everything again and kind of prove people wrong.
“I do think that I’m better than the way I was treated, so hopefully I will prove people wrong.”
Or perhaps Joey simply isn’t an international level competitor. He hasn’t really impressed in the green jersey. His disastrous showing at the 2019 RWC against Japan comes to mind.
I think Crowley and Frawley display more big game mentality. Unlike Joey’s, their performance seems to grow with occasion.
All the best in France, but don’t expect a phone call any time soon, Joey. You’ve missed your boat, and you’re 28. The guys you compete against are ahead of you while being younger.
I don’t see it happening. Go for the paycheck.
Carberry was treated with shameful discourtesy in his final time at Munster. Under VanGraan, he received abysmaly poor training (as did too many of his Munster team mates) and when Farrell decided he wanted Crowley promoted to first choice at Munster so as to vet him for Irish duty, Rowntree was only too happy to oblige and throw Carberry to one side. Rowntree's elevation to head coach was a very poor decision by the club. His technical, strategic and man-management knowledge are alike, extremely poor. The limited success that Munster had in the last two seasons came from the coaching of Prendegast and Leamy. Indeed, Rowntree's adherence to he Van Graan way of splitting the 23 for big matches led to the loss against Glasgow in 2024's URC semi-final. I wish Carberry the best of luck in France. Given his innate talent, he deserves to succeed. And if he does get called up by NZ, I'll cheer him on!
I’m sure his views will only add to the reticence of Irish players to be pushed around at will by the IRFU from one province to another, despite the recent insistence to the contrary from an arrogant Kiwi on here, who wouldn’t be told otherwise…
HAHAHA you are teaming up with Turlough Ed?
Ireland are the new boys on the block after Steve Lancaster used them for the development of his new attack structure, but I'll think you'll find Ed, that they need to step up everywhere now and make the right decisions for Irish rugby (as Schmidt tried to educate them) if they want to stay there.
If he goes well in France, I'm sure New Zealand will be looking for an astute back up when the next Rugby World Cup rolls around. He would be the perfect type 😜
Any idea what he's hinting at with Munster?