Academy Players Stepping Up | Alex McHenry

22-year-old Alex McHenry is one of five Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players who has stepped up to a senior contract with Munster following the completion of his time in the Academy.

McHenry, Diarmuid Barron, Liam Coombes, Keynan Knox and Jack O’Sullivan are now members of the senior squad having graduated from the Academy.

Read the interview with Liam Coombes here.

Read the interview with Keynan Knox here.

Centre McHenry is a Cork native and is a product of CBC, where he won the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior and Senior Cups.

He comes from a sporting family and his father, John McHenry, is a former European Tour golfer.

He joined the Munster sub-Academy straight out of school before spending the last three years in the Academy.

He has enjoyed a very successful four years playing in the All Ireland League with Cork Constitution and made his Munster debut against Benetton in 2019.

Your three years in the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy…

“The way it’s gone the last couple of years, we’ve spent a lot of time training with the senior team.

“It’s been unbelievable, from a young age coming out of school to learn off some of these players and just kind of watch them really and mirror what they do.

“I’ve been very fortunate to train with some of the best in the world. It’s a great opportunity every day really with Munster you kind of go in every day and you’re thrown into the deep end so it’s really helped me on my learning curve I think.”

Scoring a try for the Munster U19s in 2015.

Making your Munster debut in 2019…

“It was a surreal experience for me. We had been in Boston beforehand [playing with Munster A] and a few of us were flown home a bit early and straight over to Italy.

“I couldn’t believe it was actually happening but I was playing good rugby at the time and even though it was just the last few minutes, it was definitely a highlight of mine – it was a dream when I was growing up, playing for Munster and putting on that jersey.”

Joining the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy in 2017…

“I went into the sub-Academy for a year after school [in 2016]. From there I was involved with the Ireland U20s but I broke my ankle playing in the 6 Nations. Thankfully, I had done enough to secure an Academy contract.

“I had three years in the Academy which I’m extremely grateful for. I’ve come through with a really great bunch of lads and fortunately a lot of us came through to the final year.

“Along with playing AIL I was also playing a lot of games with Munster A in the British & Irish Cup and the Celtic Cup, and went over to Boston with Munster A last year – which was another highlight of my time in the Academy.”

In action for the Ireland U20s against France in 2017.

The bond with the Academy members…

“I’d be very close friends with a lot of the lads, especially the ones who I came up through the Academy with. Jack Stafford, Liam Coombes and Alan Tynan, to name just a few.

“And then I would have grown up my whole life with Shane Daly, his mother is my Godmother and we’ve come up the whole way together, going along the same path.

“Fortunately now I’ve followed in his footsteps this year, he had a superb first season in the senior squad and it’s funny now that we’re in the same situation.”

Munster Rugby Academy men Seán French and Alex McHenry celebrate winning the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup.

Breaking into the first team…

“I just have to take it day by day but I have some of my own goals that I want to fulfil. There are some great players coming in but I know my own ability and I know I’m here for a reason and I back myself.”

Getting guidance off your father…

“He’s really taken to the rugby as well over the last number of years. With golf being an individual sport, he’s really in tune with the mental side of things. He’s almost like a personal psychologist for me!

“He played at the top level of golf for many years so it’s really nice to have him as a sounding board.”

Video | Alex McHenry On His Three Years In The Academy