FROM MANLY TO Worcester with some amazing rugby memories in between. Paul Warwick is now in his third season away from Ireland and admits he may never have it as good again.
The Australian, who made a name for himself as a versatile back at Munster, is hoping to make his Worcester Warriors debut in October having signed from Stade Francais in the summer. He currently has pins in his thumb but told TheScore.ie he is settling in well in England after a difficult time in France.
He said: “Stade wasn’t really for me; not the style of rugby they play or the club itself. The language proved an obstacle for myself and my family and we all struggled. I was looking for a move to an English-speaking club and Ireland wasn’t a possibility now that they have the limits imposed on foreign players.”
Indeed, if it wasn’t for the IRFU stepping in during Warwick’s 2011 contract negotiations, the 32-year-old could still be lining out at Thomond Park. “I was only offered a one-year contract extension at Munster so I had to move on,” he revealed. “I had a young family and wasn’t offered that security. It was similar to when London Irish wanted to sign me a few years before that. They offered a one-year deal but Munster came in and offered two.”
Warwick signed for Munster in 2007 after enjoying three seasons out west. His versatility was vital during his first season at the southern province. He made 18 appearances and was on the bench as Munster captured their second Heineken Cup. Another memorable moment would follow five months later when the All Blacks came to Limerick and narrowly escaped with a win. Warwick recalled:
The New Zealand game was fantastic to be involved in. They put out a strong team and had been primed for battle. We had Denis Leamy, Rua Tipoki, Peter Stringer, Doug Howlett and myself but, other than that, there were no regular starters. It was all Academy guys but they came from that Munster environment. It was all based on the high standards that we held each other up to.”
While New Zealand, and six players that would go on to win a World Cup in 2011, escaped with an 18 — 16 win, Australia would not be so fortunate two years on. Warwick kicked all the points, including two drop goals, in a 15 — 6 win over the Wallabies. His impact made it all the more frustrating that appearances for Australia Sevens early in his career had ruled out hopes of becoming Irish qualified.
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The Brisbane native still follows Munster’s adventures and raves to TheScore.ie about flanker Paddy Butler’s fine try against Zebre last weekend. He cheered on Munster’s new stars, Conor Murray and Simon Zebo, on the Lions Tour and feels Peter O’Mahony is the perfect choice to captain the province.
“If Munster can keep producing the quality, local players, who know all about the winning culture, and attracting top players from across the world,” Warwick declares, “I can see them getting back to the top in Europe.”
As Warwick departed Paris, his former outhalf rival at Munster, Ronan O’Gara, arrived to coach at Racing Métro. He believes O’Gara would be keen to return to coach at Munster in the future and would not be surprised if ‘inspirational bloke’ Paul O’Connell follows suit. He said:
It only makes sense for the two of them to get into coaching after all they have seen, done and won over the years. The only problem they might have is trying to get Anthony Foley to retire because he has done a great job there.”
Asked if he would be keen to follow O’Gara and Foley down the coaching path once he retires, Warwick replies ‘definitely, definitely’. “I’d like to think that I could add an experienced voice to any coaching team,” he adds.
For now, however, Warwick is focused on a three to four year project at Worcester Warriors that borrows heavily on building a culture of hard work and playing with passion. The Munster model is a prime example and Warwick is a firm believer in its ways.
