ONE could perhaps forgive Matt Banahan for craving a return to rugby, following his memorable victory with the famed Barbarians against Bath.
Jersey’s most decorated rugby star made a dramatic return to The Recreation Ground, where he spent 12 years with the Premiership outfit, as the Baa-Baas snatched a 31-30 win by way of a last-minute drop goal from All Black Damian McKenzie.
It was a fitting send-off for a favourite of Bath fans, who made 251 appearances for the West Country outfit and still sits firmly inside the top ten try-scorers of all time in the Premiership.
Banahan confessed that the occasion was very special, but that his priorities have now changed.
‘For 17 long years, I had to be selfish. Professional rugby demands that of you,’ said the former England international, who left Jersey in 2005 to join London Irish.
‘Family had to sacrifice a lot for me during my playing career and now it’s my turn to be there for my family and children.
‘When you have kids of your own it really puts everything in perspective about what my parents gave up for me when I was young. They ferried me around to multiple sports growing up and made sure that I was able to continue to play lots of different sports.
‘The selfishness you need to play rugby at an elite level goes out the window and you develop a selflessness where your own children are now your priority. It’s a weird transition because you cannot afford to be selfless to play at that level, otherwise you will fall short.
‘My purpose now is to give my children the opportunities my parents gave me when I was growing up.’
What is easy to forget as a spectator of sport is the large sacrifices individuals give to attain elite level.
The viewer will only see an athlete for the length of time they are on the field and sometimes forget about the countless hours of graft behind the scenes to achieve greatness.
Banahan is just one of many with this story, but he admits it was an unwritten contract that you sign up for as a professional.
He said: ‘During the course of 17 years’ worth of rugby, the only day off we were afforded during the season was Christmas Day.
‘Even then we were training on Christmas Eve and had to watch what we were eating during Christmas Day, ahead of matches in the coming days. I became somewhat of a grinch around the festive period, knowing full well I needed to keep my focus on rugby.
‘I am trying hard to rewire myself. As a professional athlete you sort of lose a bit of yourself, because you have to play this character that is unflappable and someone that people can look up to. It is a big expectation placed on you, but I feel that I took on that responsibility when I made professional rugby my life and that is what comes along with it.’
Despite rolling back the years with the Barbarians, there are no intentions, at present, for the Islander to regularly play rugby again.
‘My son has just turned 12, and is at that age now where I am driving him around to various academies and matches,’ he explained. ‘I don’t really have the time to commit to anything else myself.
‘For me, I was lucky enough to have the choice of when to call time on my playing career. Many others don’t have that luxury and are forced into retirement through injuries or other circumstances.
‘It was the right time for me and being lucky enough to make a return to become a Barbarian was a dream come true and an achievement on my resumé I will always look back on with pride.
‘It’s strange how quickly things change. With the flip of a coin, it’s now me that needs to fulfil those duties and enjoying seeing my children perform.’
