Latest news with #Timoney
The 42
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'I still come into every single camp thinking this will be the one I break through'
PLAYING IN GEORGIA will be a new experience for Nick Timoney but the Ulster flanker has long held a soft spot for Georgian rugby. 'I have hours of Mamuka Gorgodze footage watched from when I was a kid,' explains Timoney, speaking during a media day at Ireland's pre-tour training camp in Abbotstown. 'I used to watch a highlight video of his pretty much every week. I'm not like massively familiar with the place and stuff, but Georgian rugby, we all know what it's about. They're big, they're physical, they're passionate, and you're not going to get an easy game against them.' It's not hard to see why Timoney found an interest in the bruising Gorgodze, who played for Montpellier and Toulon. 'Just back in the day when you're a kid, as you would with loads of different rugby players that were in your position and you kind of looked up to, you'd look up some of their clips, their highlights, but there was a 10-minute compilation video of Mamuka Gorgodze playing a lot of European countries for Georgia. There's loads of clips from them playing Poland and Russia and Spain and stuff. So I used to watch that a bit when I was younger. He was a bit of a tank.' Gorgodze wasn't the only player on repeat on Timoney's YouTube. 'I used to like the Chabal one, I mean the stereotypical ones you'd think of, back rows back whenever I was a teenager. I used to love David Wallace, the Sean O'Briens of this world, Ferris back in the day. I was into all my highlight clips when Rugbydump was a website that was going round back in the day, 'Try-savers and rib-breakers 11′ was my favorite one.' Those compilations were the inspiration around the time Timoney was pushing through as a promising young rugby player at Blackrock. In 2014 Timoney counted Caelan Doris, Joey Carbery, Hugo Keenan, Jeremy Loughman and Conor Oliver among his teammates as he captained Blackrock to Leinster Senior Cup success. Advertisement Timoney lifts the Leinster Schools Senior Cup in 2014. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO Then some bumps in the road. Although selected for the Ireland U20s, Timoney didn't get a place in the Leinster Academy. Kieran Campbell, academy manager at Ulster, picked up the phone and Timoney was heading north. 'The first couple years were tough, I didn't really feel like I was getting much purchase and towards the end of my second year, which was going to be my last on the two-year academy deal, and I hadn't gotten a game and hadn't gotten really that close. 'I remember playing an AIL game at Queens away to Corinthians, I think, and we got absolutely hammered. They were bottom in the league. This was 2A and I was sort of thinking there's maybe five, six weeks left in the season. 'I hadn't heard anything about the following season, thought it was maybe going to come to an end at that stage, but somewhat randomly got a chance off the bench then the following week against Cardiff and got another couple chances and ended up managing to stick around for a few years. 'I wouldn't say the first two years were a resounding success, but just about got myself kept on and just about got a chance then in the end, and I suppose then when you're featuring week in, week out…' Now his value to Ulster is beyond any doubt, with the 29-year-old capped over 150 times for the province. Ireland has been a more testing battle, with Timoney vying for action in one of the most competitive areas of the squad. He won his first Test cap four summers ago but has added just two further appearances since, the most recent of which came against Fiji in November 2022. Even during spells when he's been in good form, there have been times when Timoney hasn't been able to even make the wider squad. 'I'd be lying if I said there wasn't times where I was frustrated, but I certainly have had times where I feel like I'm incredibly close to it, and I've felt like if I had a chance, I would've taken it and run with it. 'I still feel that way, but at the same time, you get to every single Test match and it's a Six Nations game, and Irish Rugby's not in the business of just dishing out caps because you've had a good game. Like he's still picking the best four lads for the squad, and if those lads stay fit and are playing well the whole time, I mean that's just the way it goes. Obviously it's tough in my position, but that's part of it.' Timoney speaking to the media in Abbotstown. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Cap number four should arrive over the next fortnight, with the Ireland coaches hoping to hand every squad member gametime across the Tests with Georgia and Portugal. The long wait between caps has only heightened his desire to make the most of such opportunities. 'It can be tough because, being a realist, you come into a lot of camps and you know that you're not necessarily top of the pecking order. The same way that all the other lads are desperate to play, and then the game against England is opening the Six Nations or something like that, and it's still kills you inside a little bit every time you're not announced and you're not in the team. 'But ultimately, if you really value playing for Ireland enough, then there's no choice but to put more emphasis on getting better and working harder. So that's just what I try to do.' As Timoney sees it, this window is not just a fly-by opportunity to get back in the green jersey. The Ulster player still holds ambitions of making the Test arena a more regular part of his life. Timoney debuted for Ireland in 2021. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO 'There's examples of it all over. There's the Deon Fouries of the world who are uncapped to 35 and captain their team in a World Cup final. Maybe that's a bit of an extreme example, but the way it is in Irish rugby the coaches are good enough and they value progression and what they see in front of you. It's not a case of them making their mind up about you and deciding that you're not the one when you're 25, 26, 27, 29 hopefully. If you're playing well enough, they'll pick you. 'The belief is still there. I still come into every single camp thinking this will be the one I break through and I'll be into it properly then. That's been slower obviously than I would've liked, but I still keep backing myself and believing I'm going to still keep trying to get better. 'As soon as I think that I've peaked and I'm down the other side of it, then maybe I'll lose a bit of hope. But I feel like I still have loads of improvements to make and I still feel like I'm feeling good and have the same appetite for it.'
RTÉ News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Nick Timoney: It feels like a long time since my last cap
Nick Timoney is a persistent man. A month shy of his 30th birthday, the Ulster back row could be held up as a poster boy for Ireland's embarrassment of riches at flanker and number 8. It's four years since the Dublin native made his Ireland debut, scoring a try in the 2021 summer hammering of USA, getting his opportunity while others were away on British and Irish Lions duty in South Africa. That was his first taste of the Ireland squad, and the versatile back row has consistently been part of Andy Farrell's wider plans since. He's been part of the extended squad in 10 of the last 11 Six Nations, Autumn Nations Series and summer tour groups, with the World Cup preparation squad in 2023 the only time he hasn't been selected or later added to the panel. With 16 Ireland internationals away on Lions again this summer, he's one of the experienced members of this squad - in a sense. Part of the furniture in the squad as a whole, but the durability and form of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan and Peter O'Mahony has seen Timoney win just three caps in the last four years, with his debut against USA followed by a cap off the bench against Argentina a few months later, while he scored two tries on his most recent appearance against Fiji in November 2022. "Yeah, it feels like a long time ago. It pretty much is a long time ago now," the Ulster back row says, when he looks back on his last cap, just under three years ago. "Opportunities don't come easy in this squad because of how competitive it is and certainly feels like back row is always incredibly competitive." He's not the only one who has had to sit and wait patiently for their chance in this Irish back row. Gavin Coombes also made his debut in that 2021 summer programme, and like Timoney, will be hoping to finally add some more caps in the upcoming Test matches against Georgia and Portugal. Timoney has had three other outings in the green jersey, featuring twice for Ireland's dirt-trackers against the Maori All Blacks on the 2022 tour of New Zealand, before playing with Ireland A against an All Blacks XV at the RDS in November that year. However, none of those games were full internationals. "I made my debut during the last Lions tour four years ago, and bar getting called in on the day once when there was a few injuries [against Argentina], I've only gotten picked once since then for an actual cap. "In my head, there's absolutely no hint of this being anything other than a chance to represent my country, which is a massive honour. "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't times where I was frustrated, but I certainly have had times where I feel like I'm incredibly close to it, and I've felt like if I had a chance, I would've taken it and run with it. "Obviously it's tough in my position, but that's part of it." It would have been hard to blame Timoney if he'd given up on his Ireland ambitions. An abrasive, ball-carrying and versatile back row, he'd be welcomed with open arms into any number of French Top14 sides, where he'd almost certainly be increasing his pay packet. But he's drawing inspiration from a South African World Cup winner to never park his Test career. "I just value the goal that's there. It can be tough because, being a realist, you come into a lot of camps and you know that you're not necessarily top of the pecking order. "And it's still kills you inside a little bit every time you're not announced and you're not in the team. "But ultimately, if you really value playing for Ireland enough, then there's no choice but to put more emphasis on getting better and working harder. So that's just what I try to do. "There's examples of it all over. There's the Deon Fouries of the world who are uncapped to 35 and captain their team in a World Cup final. "Belief still there. Like I still come into every single camp thinking this will be the one I break through and I'll be into it properly then," he added. Timoney will be among a squad of 32 players who fly to Tbilisi on Wednesday for what will be Ireland's first ever game away to Georgia on Saturday 5 July. While Ireland have never lost to the Georgians, they were given a bit of a scare when the sides lasts met in 2020 as Ireland limped their way to a 23-10 win. The Dublin native has only previously played Georgia in Sevens and at underage level for Ireland, although it's been enough for him to appreciate the physicality in store next week. And as someone who dreamed of becoming a professional player during the mid-2010s, he cites a Georgian great as one of his rugby inspirations. "I have hours of Mamuka Gorgodze [above] footage watched from when I was a kid. I used to watch a highlight video of his pretty much every week. "Back in the day when you're a kid, as you would with loads of different rugby players that were in your position, you'd look up some of their clips, their highlights, but there was a 10-minute compilation video of Mamuka Gorgodze playing a lot of European countries for Georgia. "There's loads of clips from them playing Poland and Russia and Spain and stuff. So I used to watch that a bit when I was younger. "He was a bit of a tank. "I was into all my highlight clips when Rugbydump was a website that was going round back in the day, 'Try-savers and rib-breakers 11' was my favourite one."
The 42
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'We know what we need, so we can't hold anything back'
WITH SO MUCH about this interprovincial for both teams' URC play-off hopes, Nick Timoney is intent on embracing all aspects of the pressurised challenge in doing battle with Munster at Thomond Park. Both teams currently find themselves outside the top eight with just two rounds remaining – Munster are ninth but on equal points with Benetton (41), while Ulster are in 12th on 38 points – to not only secure knockout rugby in the league but also a place in next season's Champions Cup which both provinces have never missed out on. For Timoney and his teammates, it's a case of Ulster's season being on the line and, as such, the northern province are fully invested in chasing the result in Limerick from what is essentially already 'cup final' rugby. Advertisement 'It's a final (against Munster) and then it's final again the following week (at Edinburgh) if we win,' said the 29-year-old backrower and one of Ulster's most consistent performers. 'We know what we need, so we can't hold anything back. 'There's no looking past this Friday because there won't be much left to look at if we don't get it right, so it's a big one,' admitted Timoney who has played 165 times for Ulster but has never won in Limerick with the province. 'It's obviously a negative this week if we lose for a lot of reasons, so, again, (we need to) embrace it (the challenge) and make sure we've got the lads all on the pitch with that same mindset that you want to be here and that's what you want to do.' The three times capped Ireland player also spoke of using the emotion and must-win aspects of the occasion as positives to allow Ulster take the game to their hosts who look in a better place to make the top eight as their final two rounds are at home. 'It's going to be a big emotional day for them,' he said of what is likely to be a final outing at Thomond Park for veterans Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer, 'but I think we're often at our best on similar sort of occasions. 'And I think when those games get quite needly and personal, which the interpros always are, that brings out the best in us as well. 'So, we're not coming in (to this game) unaware by any stretch.'
RTÉ News
08-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Faster housing delivery could mitigate impact of tariffs
Faster housing delivery could mitigate the impact of tariffs, according to the latest report from Davy. Updated forecasts from the Department of Finance show that economic growth will slow next year due to US tariffs. Davy believe that this presents a compelling rationale for the Government to use all available levers to accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery in the near term. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Davy's chief economist Kevin Timoney said that looking at the recent history of the Irish economy, "the best time to have built housing was probably about 10 years ago realistically." "Now that we potentially have a slowdown in activity that creates a bit of capacity," said Mr Timoney. "There's often concern that there wasn't the capacity to do all of the growth in the economy and to add to the supply side as well. We see that there's a good opportunity coming up now and that it would be a good, almost countercyclical time to do it when the the rest of the economy is potentially slowed from tariffs," he said. Davy is also highlighting levers the Government can use to accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery in the near term. This week the Minister for Housing James Brown said he is considering a report from the Housing Agency on potential changes to rent pressure zones. The report examines the options available to Government including removing rent caps, retaining the existing ceiling which limit increases to 2% or adjusting the existing limits. Mr Timoney described the ongoing review of rent pressure zones to open up increased supply, lowering construction costs and potentially looking to do further reforms in terms of planning as the three key areas to be looked at. "I think in the near term there could be a boost to housing output anyway, we did see a big increase in commencements last year. These have been somewhat discredited because there were some subsidies at play and maybe not all of the commencements will be built," he said. "But even if some of them were built, that would still imply a good boost to housing in the second quarter of this year so it'll be interesting to see whether that takes place," he added.
BreakingNews.ie
24-04-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Current housing output means targets for 2025 unlikely to be met, chief economist says
The current housing output means that government targets for 2025 are unlikely to be met, chief economist Kevin Timoney has said. The number of homes completed in the first three months of the year increased by two per cent compared with the same period last year, new figures released on Thursday showed. Advertisement Completions data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show there were 5,938 dwellings completed in January, February, and March in 2025. However, the Department of Housing released figures this week that confirmed the Government missed its new-build social housing target by 1,429 last year, or 15 per cent, having also missed it in previous years. As well as this, Central Bank has projected that the Government will miss its own housing targets by a wide margin for the next three years. Davy chief economist, Kevin Timoney, said: 'Despite growth in new apartments in Q1, house completions disappointed compared to our expectation of an increase, and our forecast of 42,000 units this year already looks unlikely to be met. Advertisement "Reforms remain necessary for housing delivery to ramp up, which is even more important as uncertainty due to tariffs slows Irish economic growth this year." Timoney said Davy's view remains that a weak level of housing output remains likely until major reforms are fully implemented with respect to rent controls, construction costs, and the planning process. "The stalled level of housing output far below what is needed should provide ample motivation for the new government to expedite these reforms. "Assuming these reforms take place, and priority is placed on addressing wider infrastructure challenges (especially with respect to water and electricity/grid constraints), a pathway to far higher housing delivery continues to be available.'
