"I was very close to going abroad" - Tom Farrell makes 'career lifeline' Ireland debut at 32-years-old

Farrell revealed after the match that he was in fact 'close to going abroad', as he thought that he had missed the boat for an Ireland debut and was instead surveying up his options for a club career overseas.

“It was probably a lifeline for my career. I was very close to going abroad and then this opportunity arose." Farrell revealed in the post match media at the Aviva Stadium. "Then a couple of injuries and a few different situations happened at Munster, where I got on a bit of a roll of games.

"I managed to pick up a good bit of form and my game went from strength to strength last year. Luckily, this year again, I managed to get in for rounds two and three of the league, just before the Ireland squad was selected, and that probably worked in my favour as well.”

“I’d rather not say [where I was going] but I was very close to going abroad, and then I was literally about to sign when I got a call from Munster. That put a spanner in the works, a good spanner.”

It was certainly an emotional week for the former Connacht man, with the unforgettable few days including the fabled Thursday jersey presentation from his Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.

"I was a little bit emotional at the start when I knew I was going to be playing. Just chatting to my wife and my family. It was brilliant. Then Faz has a lovely tradition since he became head coach. He invites families in for a jersey presentation on the Thursday.

"So, both my parents, my wife and my little daughter came out to the Shelbourne on Thursday, which was a lovely touch. Faz had a couple of words to say. And he presents me with my first jersey. So, it was special."

Reflecting upon his journey to the green jersey, Farrell shared what went down in the changing room after the match. Now bestowed with his dutifully deserved debut cap, the 32-year-old spoke with his new national teammates about his whirlwind of a journey to the Test match stage.

"I was only actually talking in the changing room there. The last time I was on camp was 2019, and I probably let the opportunity pass me by a bit." Farrell admitted. "I probably wasn't ready for the intensity and the demands of international rugby and probably let the opportunity slip by.

"But once I got the nod there two weeks ago, I was pretty determined to leave my mark, essentially. I wasn't perfect today, but there's some good things out there."

No different to the grass roots of the amateur club game, Farrell had to face the music with a post-match song to mark the occasion of his international debut. The centre expressed how his fellow newcomer Paddy McCarthy dodged the proverbial bullet, as after making his debut out in Chicago against the All Blacks, the 22-year-old loose-head only had to sing to a room of 30 people out in the USA. Farrell expects a tougher crowd after making his debut at home to a joyous extended IRFU family.

“I haven’t sang it yet. I have to go up now. Paddy McCarthy got off lightly with just a group of 30 of us in the team room but I don’t think I’m getting away with that. I have to go up to the corporate function and there’s probably 2-300 people up there."

Farrell revealed what he may opt for as his song of choice. "I might go with Killeagh [Irish Folk song by Kingfishr] and hopefully get a few people to join in.”

Once Farrell gets the on-stage embarrassment out of the way, he is excited to catch up with the friends and family that have followed his journey to this moment. When asked who he is most excited to see after his awkward post-debut festivities, Farrell said;

“Probably my parents. My mam in particular. Both my parents literally followed me everyone. Every away game we go to. Last year with the Champions Cup, years ago over in South Africa, they wouldn’t miss a game so it will be great to catch up with them and share that moment.”