Gordon D'Arcy: Climbing that injury recovery mountain builds resilience and makes you stronger
The Rugby Players Ireland campaign, Tackle Your Feelings (TYF), brought into the public forum the importance of taking care of mental health and wellbeing in a proactive manner, just as you would when it comes to the physical side of being a professional athlete.
Leinster, Ireland and soon to be Lions prop Andrew Porter spoke brilliantly about the challenges he faced in trying to process losing his mum, Wendy, at a young age. He was one of several elite rugby players who have highlighted how they cope with the emotional highs and lows of being involved in high-profile sport.
The goal is trying to maintain an equilibrium which can be very difficult at times, and to be honest I rarely achieved that across my career. I discovered, poignantly at times, that joy and particularly failure, need to be processed. No one gets a free pass in that respect. If you care, if it matters, it can hurt.
It showed an openness and understanding that allowed him to push through the acute disappointment and move forward
A TYF social media post caught my attention, a quote from
Caelan Doris
who remarked: 'It's not nice to welcome those feelings and emotions, to sit with them and process them properly, but that's probably the best way to do it.'
READ MORE
He was reflecting on Leinster's defeat to La Rochelle in 2022. It showed an openness and understanding that allowed him to push through the acute disappointment and move forward, potentially channelling it as a fuel source to drive him to the elite standards he reaches regularly.
It has been a brutal couple of weeks for the entire Leinster squad, having gone from hot favourites to win the Champions Cup to losing a home semi-final to the Northampton Saints. The shoulder injury that Doris suffered in the match required surgery. His dream of captaining and playing for the
British & Irish Lions
in Australia this summer has been kicked down the road for another four years.
It's easy to empathise. I enjoyed plenty of success, but by the same token, there were aspects of being a professional rugby player that I found incredibly challenging on and off the pitch.
Gordon D'Arcy is chased by Catalin Draguceanu of Romania at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Photograph: Patrick Bolger/Inpho
At the start of my career there was no room to show emotion, weakness or vulnerability, and the thought of opening yourself up and acknowledging those feelings that accompanied mistakes, setbacks or failures was alien. That's putting it politely.
The learned behaviour was to numb the pain, bottle it up and then try to ignore it. I did this as a young player when I joined the professional ranks, the only respite in and around the 1999 Rugby World Cup when I spent a couple of weeks under the protective influence of Conor O'Shea. The standards he set were way in advance of the time.
He enjoyed everyone's company, drank modestly and worked incredibly hard. He was a really positive role model. I struggled to settle in Leinster at that point because I felt I had nobody to talk to and lacked the self-awareness to understand that I needed to address these feelings.
That was probably the first time I opened myself up what was going on inside
By not tackling my emotions, I reacted in the worst possible way, inevitably, I suppose, based on my immaturity. A negative downward spiral ensued. Matt Williams shook me to my senses by giving me an ultimatum: change or leave.
That was probably the first time I opened myself up what was going on inside. Those memories still make me feel vulnerable and uneasy to this day but thankfully I realised then that I needed to ask for help to turn my career around, rather than allow my feelings to drown in a sea of negativity.
I learned very quickly that people will always help, but as my former Ireland coach Declan Kidney said to me around this time, when you are on the ground there will be hands offered, but you must reach out to take the hand.
The hardest part of this process as a 20-year-old was acknowledging that I was the problem and the solution. When you take control of the situation, it is cathartic. It becomes a source of personal pride that you were able to turn things around and you make a deposit in the bank of resilience that will stand to you the next time you feel overwhelmed.
Caelan Doris will be down over this injury but his willingness to address those feelings will carry him through. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
There is always another test or challenge around the corner. I struggled at times in the alpha environment off the field in Irish camp. I broke my arm in 2008, spent a year on the sidelines and on my return had to reinvent myself as a player. I had to confront my physical mortality as a player in 2015.
Each time a different part of me was tested, and I found out a little bit about myself. It is too easy to rattle off the saying, 'if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger', but I believe that while we find out a lot about ourselves in the tough times, nobody ever enjoys them.
I didn't. I cried in private. I leaned on people I trusted. More often than not, I came out the other side and took quiet satisfaction from being able to last through the parts that I found tough. For me fear was always a driver, not wanting to let those negative emotions and thoughts win. It is different for everyone, deeply personal, but when we get through hard times, there is always a moment that draws a smile.
Andy Farrell has spoken about empathy and vulnerability in his approach to coaching and engaging with players
That moment will seem a lifetime away now for Doris. What will stand to him is his ability and willingness to address those feelings, the mental resilience that he has shown. In doing that, he becomes such an important role model for anyone within his sphere of influence.
Andy Farrell has spoken about empathy and vulnerability in his approach to coaching and engaging with players; Doris was a natural fit as a leader within this type of set-up. This is unquestionably the toughest part of this young man's career.
Time helps in these situations, and I know that he will get to a point when he accepts the injury and what comes with it. Climbing the recovery mountain builds resilience and makes you stronger. The struggle doesn't define you; how you choose to respond does. I'm looking forward to seeing how he uses the setback as a springboard for future success.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cork boss Pat Ryan makes penalty admission after his side reclaim Munster title
Jubilant Cork boss Pat Ryan hailed his side's fighting qualities as they bounced back from a 16-point drubbing to take the Munster title. Limerick's long reign in the province is over after a dramatic penalty shootout saw their seven-in-a-row dreams dashed as Cork ran out 3-2 winners with the sides were deadlocked at 2-27 to 1-30 after extra time as Darragh Fitzgibbon's last gasp 65 saved a draw for the Rebels. It came just three weeks after Limerick destroyed them at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in the round robin phase, but they're now Munster champions for the first time since 2018. Ryan said: 'We didn't fight the last time we came up here and the lads, look, obviously they worked really hard, we fought really, really hard. 'It just took penalties to separate us and we're just delighted to get the trophy.' He added: 'We know that we're a really, really good team. But it's the same with every other team, there's loads of good teams out there and it's all about the attitude you bring and whether you're going to fight. 'We fought today really, really hard. We were missing a couple of fellas, a couple of bodies came on and sometimes that actually freshens up the team. 'I thought the lads came off the bench today and did a fantastic job. Robbie O'Flynn, Tommy O'Connell, Shane Kingston, I thought they were really, really good.' Cork scored three of the four penalties they took as Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston and Alan Connolly converted while Fitzgibbon saw his effort saved, though Ryan admitted they hadn't gone through a penalty routine collectively in the build-up to the game. 'None, none,' he said. "All the lads are practising a lot, I think. We had really, really good confidence in them. Eoin Downey probably practised more penalties than anyone.' Ryan has been at pains to keep a lid on the hype on Leeside this year, particularly when they stormed to a League title, and he said: "We won by penalties against a brilliant Limerick team. Do you know what I mean? 'This is just the start. This is just one thing. We move on to the All-Ireland series, the semi-finals. We know we're a really good team. 'We saw what we were like when we were not at it three weeks ago. Three or four weeks ago. That's all to play for. We're really looking forward to going to the Leinster final.' Ahead of an All-Ireland semi-final on July 5 as Limerick head for a quarter-final, Ryan added: "This is one less game. This is probably three or four weeks off. It's probably going to take a bit of managing now. That's something that we haven't accounted for before. 'Limerick have plenty of experience of how they deal with that. That's your four weeks off to manage properly and probably get a bit of advice from fellas that have done it before.'
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Dara Curran late point helps Roscommon minors find the extra in Louth win and seals All-Ireland semi-final
Roscommon reached their first All-Ireland minor football semi-final in five years, thanks to Dara Curran's late point in a pulsating contest that required extra-time at Kingspan Breffni.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
From the glorious chaos of the Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels rise again
Everything about it was staggering: the suffocating intensity, the twists, the spectacular scores and the crazy misses. Cork and Limerick were locked in a clench from teatime until shortly before bedtime and neither of them knew how to let go. The longest night in the history of the Munster Championship ended with a penalty shoot-out and a season set ablaze. Hallelujah. After being eviscerated by Limerick in the round-robin phase, Cork reclaimed everything they had lost three weeks ago. All the doubts about their temperament and their stomach for the fight were obliterated. This group of Cork players couldn't afford to fall over again. They stood up to everything Limerick could muster. The cruelty of penalties is a modern phenomenon in the GAA. For an epic contest such as this to be decided by such a capricious tiebreaker is a function of the condensed calendar and, no doubt, there will be another chorus of dissent. There should be. In the event, Limerick's third and fourth penalties missed the target; in between Alan Connolly buried a penalty with characteristic panache. After nearly 100 minutes, that was the only difference. READ MORE The psychological capital for Cork is incalculable. After their late collapse in Ennis and their abject surrender in the Gaelic Grounds three weeks ago, there were widespread doubts about Cork's credentials as serious contenders. This performance was the only credible answer. Aaron Gillane scores a late point for Limerick. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The teams were level 17 times in all, but it was Cork who found the equaliser at the end of normal time and at the conclusion of extra-time. Limerick had chances to finish the game in 70 minutes, but Darragh O'Donovan dropped a shot short and Aaron Gillane missed a free from an acute angle. Cork had earned their reprieve. For Limerick there is an obvious cost. For the first time since their breakthrough season in 2018 they must navigate a quarter-final in a fortnight's time, and for an ageing team that is a tax they would prefer not to pay. John Kiely has never made any secret of his fondness for the month long break granted to provincial winners but they must do without it now. At various times in the second half of normal time, when they were playing with the wind, it looked like Limerick would assert control and kick on. But they couldn't. Cork's four-point half-time lead was wiped out in just 11 minutes, but from there until the finish they never led by more than a point. In normal time they managed just 28 shots from play when they would usually expect to register that many scores, or more. When Cork beat them in the round-robin game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh 13 months ago they were the first team to have more shots than Limerick in the Kiely era. Here, they exceeded Limerick's total by eight shots. For Limerick, a team whose potency is built on volume, this was a massive systems failure. Primary possession had been a massive problem for Cork three weeks ago, but that core issue was successfully addressed too. Cork won 59 per cent of their own puck-outs and restricted Limerick to 62 per cent on their own ball; that game that a platform to compete. Cork's Tommy O'Connell in action against Limerick's Barry Nash. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho The biggest difference, though, was Cork's aggression and abrasiveness and relentlessness. From the start they stood in the middle of the ring and traded body blows. They were ravenous for turnovers and flew into contests for ball on the ground. This was the fundamental stuff that Pat Ryan has demanded from this group for the last three years but had been so painfully absent three weeks ago. Cian Lynch was hounded by the outstanding Ciaran Joyce and a posse of lieutenants. Diarmaid Byrnes was tormented by Seamus Harnedy, just as he was in the game 13 months ago, and eventually the Limerick wing back was taken off. Kyle Hayes was magnificent in the opening 20 minutes, but by half-time Shane Barrett had scored 1-3 from play on his watch, and for the remainder of the game Hayes was just another bamboozled mortal, going around with his tongue hanging out like everybody else. In a game like this, with both teams going at each other like rutting stags, the referee was bound to be part of the story. Members of both management teams made a bolt for Tomas Walsh as he left the field at half-time and ended up getting stuck in each other. There was pushing and jostling and jawing and shaping and all of it was out or order. It was clear during the first half, though, that both managers had become increasingly wound up by Walsh's refusal to penalise obvious fouls – or at least when it suited them. The fourth official and the linesman on the Mackey Stand side were on the receiving end of constant feedback and hot takes. Limerick's Cian Lynch after the game. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Just like Brian Cody's Kilkenny years ago, Kiely's Limerick are usually sanguine about matches where the physical contact is unregulated and Cork clearly came to the Gaelic Grounds with the stomach for a battle. Walsh granted permission for illegal contact all over the field and both teams flaked away. In these situations, though, everyone loves the spectacle until they're gasping for a free and there's an unpenalized foul in front of the goal for an offence that had also gone unpenalized in the middle of the field. For Cork's first goal, Brian Hayes and Patrick Horgan were both mangled by Limerick defenders, but Walsh's hand wasn't raised for an advantage before Shane Barrett whipped the ball to the net. There were no laws in the jungle. Walsh booked four players in the first 10 minutes of the second half but there was no end to the viral fouling. It would have been the most delicious of ironies if the game had been decided by a free, but Gillane's effort from an acute angle in the fourth minute of stoppage time flew wide of the far post. Limerick will feel like they blew it, which is the same feeling they had against Cork twice last year. The wheel has turned again.
