Back To Basics For Bohane

Retirement. For a professional rugby player it’s a decision that’s rarely completely voluntary. Age and injuries the main symptoms, while for some it’s simply falling out with the game that causes them to end their career early, none of these apply in the case of Cian Bohane.

The back, who could play in the centre or the wings, made five appearances for his province in the PRO12 last season, but made the decision to retire from the professional sphere aged just 25. Not for any of the reasons outlined above however, the Corkonian making the mature decision to go back to college and work on the degree he had always wanted.

“It was a combination of things really. There was obviously the major decision with knowing I needed to go back and do the sports studies degree which I’ve wanted to do since putting it down first on my CAO back at school. Then I didn’t get in through the random selection in Coláiste Stiofán Naofa where I could make the tough move and call time on the rugby, because I wasn’t going to be able to do both at the same time.

“My contract was up at the end of the year anyway, and it between going to back college and having family and my girlfriend here in Cork, that was the decision I took.

“I was going for a coffee with James Cronin the other day and he asked me if I regretted the decision, and hand-on-heart I don’t. Obviously I didn’t make it on a whim, and since telling Rassie (Erasmus) in December I haven’t looked back.”

Having taken a break from the oval ball altogether for a few months, and having acquainted himself a bit too close with a paint bucket in the off-season, Bohane began back with UCC this week. Last year’s British & Irish Cup winner will be adjusting to a new side of the game, coming in as Wayne Falvey’s assistant at Kinsale for the coming season.

“I was helping my Dad out at home with painting, and being the amateur I am I stepped straight off the ladder into a bucket of paint which was a bit of a disaster! But I’ve kept myself busy since the end of the season, and I’ve been doing a lot of training as well, I’ve kept myself going!

“I never had the chance to play with UCC when I came out school, and while Dolphin was absolutely brilliant, it was something I suppose it’s something people have said to make sure you do to play for the College, that it’s a really enjoyable experience and competitive too.

“I really enjoyed Brian Walsh’s style of play from my time in Munster, and now that he’s joined UCC it’s swayed my decision to go and sign for them. I’m really looking forward to playing amateur rugby and throwing myself into that too. There’s a great bunch of lads there, and it was great to get a rugby ball back into my hands after a few months.

“The Kinsale thing came about through one of the rugby committee members, Gary Byrne, who got my number through Johnny (Holland) whom he knew well from his own time in UCC. The club has a new vision and new direction, and wanted to build a culture there, and with Wayne coming on board, they wanted a young and vibrant coaching staff.

“I jumped at the opportunity. It’s exciting for me having never really coached before on a club basis, it’s something which I relish and having known Wayne through coaching the women’s, it’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’ve never had aspirations to coach professionally, or even as a head coach of a club side, you never know what the future holds of course, but certainly the assistant role is something I’ve always wanted to do.

“There’s a lot you can take from different players as well as the coaches, definitely what I took from Rassie’s time is the importance of building a culture around the team and the importance on working for each other. Even the smallest of details like punctuality, you’re a sponge as a player and soak up as much as you can. And ultimately it’s about coupling what you know with making sure everyone is enjoying themselves, especially at club level.”

Enjoying his rugby is the key now for Bohane, moving back into the amateur sphere, and passing on his knowledge gained after six years within Munster Rugby. Now, through Kinsale he will have the opportunity to see what life on the other side of the line is like, and with the South Cork outfit beginning looking for promotion out of Munster Division 2 this year, his and Falvey’s contributions will be instrumental at the club.