IT’S EASY TO forget how far Rory O’Loughlin has come in a relatively short period of time. In a season of breakthroughs and outstanding performances at Leinster, his rise has been the story of the year.
As O’Loughlin presents himself for media duty at the province’s UCD headquarters, he does so in a hoody with ‘Academy’ embroidered under the crest. A reminder, then, of how far he has actually come since the start of the season.
Rewind six months and the 22-year-old was in no man’s land. With the final year of a Business and Law degree ahead of him, O’Loughlin knew something had to give. He had waited patiently for his opportunity, and it never came. This was his last chance saloon.
He was the first to admit the prospects of forging a professional career at Leinster were diminishing as he watched his peers — the likes of Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier — make the breakthrough at senior level. Time was running out.
“Professional rugby is a completely different standard to what you play in school and some players get the break and go straight in but I had to bide my time and for me it took a bit longer,” he says.
“I remember going to the games at the Aviva last year and thinking I was a good bit away from that. A year later, I’m playing.”
O’Loughlin speaking to media at UCD this week. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
To say O’Loughlin has made a name for himself since making his senior debut against Treviso in September is an understatement. His career has been on an upward trajectory since with his confidence and stature palpably growing with each passing week.
Even speaking to the media, the former St Michael’s College student speaks with more conviction. He may still be in ‘pinch me’ territory but O’Loughlin is starting to feel at home at this level.
“I’ve been supporting Leinster since I was eight so to finally get to play is a dream come true,” he admits. “It’s been great, I absolutely love it.
Even watching Leinster with his father at Donnybrook harbouring hopes of one day playing for the province, he could never have envisaged the position he now finds himself in.
As he says himself, this is all a dream come true.
“People constantly say that to me,” the winger continues. “It’s weird I haven’t really had that much time to think about it as the games roll into one another and I’m constantly involved.
“At this stage I think it would take me a week or two to kind of appreciate everything that has gone on this season and come to terms with it but at the moment I’m just delighted to be in this position and want to keep going.”
O’Loughlin and Leinster are preparing for a big trip to Castres this weekend. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
Injuries to Dave Kearney and Fergus McFadden may have opened the door further for O’Loughlin, particularly on the wing, but he has made the position his own and seized his chance.