Harry Byrne finally had his moment for Leinster, and he did it the hard way
Some of the greatest stories are rags-to-riches stories. Think of Rocky, the story of a boxer who came from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs with plenty of hard work in between.
Harry Byrne had his Rocky moment at the Aviva Stadium tonight. Having come on as Leinster were down and in need of more playmaking, Byrne stepped up when it mattered.
It was a moment that barely anyone thought would happen to the younger Byrne just over a year ago.
Harry Byrne of Leinster celebrates with team-mates James Ryan, Thomas Clarkson 3, and kicking coach Emmet Farrell. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
With just a handful of minutes played halfway through the season, Byrne went out on his own training mission to redeem his career, finding himself in the West Country with Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears.
And by that stage, many deemed Harry to be just ‘the other Byrne’ with his brother Ross’ shadow looming large over the player who was a star at school’s level for St Michael’s College.
He was the starting 10 for the Ireland U20s as well, and hype built around him. He was touted as the more exciting of the brothers, a stronger runner, scorer and not as cerebral as Ross, who was always a safer hand.
Harry Byrne of Leinster races clear of Jurenzo Julius of Hollywoodbets Sharks. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
And that hype carried into the early part of his senior career as he was capped by Andy Farrell at just 21 years old against the USA after a dozen or so starts for Leinster.
However, that looked to be the peak for Byrne as he was one of the many Leinster players to fall victim to the monstrous conveyor belt that is the Leinster academy.
With the embarrassment of riches at Leo Cullen’s disposal, Byrne never got regular minutes, having been deployed at 12 or coming on for small cameos, and it wasn’t helped by poorly timed injuries.
BKT United Rugby Championship, Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea, Wales 7/1/2023 Ospreys vs Leinster Harry Byrne of Leinster Rugby. Pic: INPHO/Ashley Crowden
Many still had hope for him to come through post-Sexton in 2023, but as the newer, cooler toy Sam Prendergast came out, no one was interested in Harry no more.
That’s when the move to Bristol happened. A chance call from the Bears for Byrne to help out as cover for the injured AJ McGinty. And even if he only played in 11 matches, they all had a profound impact on him.
After his player of the match return against the Sharks in October, Byrne talked about just how important the Bristol move was, not just for his development as a player, but as a person as well, moving away from home for the first time.
‘To be honest, it was a great bunch of people to go into.’ Byrne said after his first of multiple player-of-the-match awards. ‘Pat Lam is a very good coach, so to experience something new, a new competition, living away from home for the first time for six months was a brilliant experience, and just playing regularly.’
Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
And he’s looked like a new man since coming back to Dublin, becoming the form 10 in the country and making the Jack v Sam debate now a Jack v Sam v Harry debate in a plot twist no one had foreseen.
And the kick against La Rochelle is the culmination of a year-long arc, from Byrne doing his own Rocky training montage away from the spotlight in Bristol, to building up a name for himself, to his main event kick in one of club rugby’s greatest rivalries.
The roar when that kick went over was something that you don’t hear too often in Lansdowne, especially for Leinster, since they made it their temporary home.
It’s a moment that few will forget, and with Leinster going to the well once again this season, it could be a turning point in the first act of their European quest.
