14-05-2025
Craig Casey ‘gutted' to miss out on Lions selection but focusing on avoiding ‘inconceivable' Munster failure
CRAIG CASEY is putting his Lions snub behind him to make sure Munster do not miss out on the Champions Cup next year.
Thomond Park ace Casey was not one of the 38 chosen for this year's Australia tour, with
After missing this year's Six Nations campaign with a knee injury,
And although the Limerick native knew his chances of making the squad for the ten-game tour — which begins on June 20 in the Aviva with a Test against Argentina — were slim, he admitted that not hearing his name called out still hurt.
He said: 'I definitely wanted to be there. I am gutted to be honest.
"You're waiting, hoping for your name to be called out, and then it went straight to Elliot Daly, that's when you know because of the alphabet.'
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Casey also said he watched the squad announcement alone out of choice.
He revealed: 'I was actually with all the lads, we had just finished the captain's run and we were out for lunch.
'I was like, 'Nah, I'm rushing home'. They were like, 'Ah, stay'. I was like, 'Not a hope am I watching it with all ye dopes!'
'My parents and my girlfriend were working, so I said I'd watch it in a room by myself. And then I stayed in that room by myself for 2½ hours after that!'
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The nature of rugby means that Casey may well be one injury away from a Lions reprieve.
But having seen his own hopes ruined by one, he would never wish for that.
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He said: 'I have just come off the back of an injury, so I wouldn't wish injury on any of the three scrum-halves that have been picked. They are really good players.
'I presume there will be a standby list at some stage but I have no idea how it works.
'I would like to think I'd be in contention if something did happen but again I'm probably not really in control of that.
'It's just about putting my best foot forward for Munster and being ready if something does happen.'
And that means beating Benetton on Friday to secure a URC play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification for next season.
Currently eighth in the table, a bonus point should be enough although nothing will be certain until all games are played.
No Munster team has ever missed on competing in Europe's premier club competition, and Casey is well aware of the high stakes.
He continued: 'Munster and the Heineken Cup and the Champions Cup, it's something — we have no choice — we have to be there to be honest.
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Pictured at the C11 Recovery partnership announcement with Munster Rugby at Thomond Park, Limerick
Credit: Inpho
'The pressure is on this weekend like we've all touched on here. It would be inconceivable not to be there.
'Our job is to win. Every time you put on a Munster jersey, the only thing you're thinking about is winning.
'So if we start thinking about the other games while we're on the pitch, it's going to go drastically wrong so we've got to think about what we need to do.'
IRISH brand C11 Recovery is proud to announce Munster Rugby's Craig Casey as the newest official ambassador for the global recovery company.
This partnership marks a key step in C11's continued growth as a leading provider of elite recovery equipment for athletes and organisations worldwide.
