When Tom Ahern and Munster agreed to the Waterford man’s latest two-year contract extension, both player and province alike must have done so in the fervent belief that these should be the best years of his career to date.
“Over the moon” about his new deal with his home province, as his versatility demonstrates, the rangy, athletic, 6ft 9in lock/blindside flanker is a rare talent. After two years on the Irish Under-20s as well as an Emerging Ireland tour in 2022 and call-ups to the A and full Irish squads, the 24-year-old has still to make the breakthrough into international rugby.
The back five in the pack is a seriously competitive area of course, and 53 caps in 4½ seasons with Munster is not a bad return, albeit 26 have been starts and 27 off the bench.
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It’s also worth noting that Ahern missed virtually all of the 2022-23 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Then, last June an ankle injury sidelined him for Munster’s URC run-in after he had played 23 games last season. Having trained with the Ireland squad, the injury also ruled him out of consideration for the summer tour to South Africa.
“To be honest I was very frustrated. We were coming into quarter-finals and play-offs here with Munster and to miss all of that after having a fairly good injury run, an injury-free season. But that’s part of the game and stuff like that happens. You just have to deal with it at the time and move past it.”
Ahern returned as a replacement in the game against Leinster in Croke Park in early December and has put together an increasingly strong run of games again.
“I’m getting there. Obviously, it wasn’t the most ideal start to the season. It gets you up to speed when you get a good run of games and I’ve had that now in the last few weeks, and hopefully, touch wood, I can continue improving around all aspects of my game and my fitness.”
In the last two campaigns, Ahern has morphed into a backrower as well as a lock, with his long stride and finishing ability utilised on the edges.
Five of his nine tries in the last two seasons have come with the number ‘6′ on his back but while he enjoys when afforded some space on the edges, he maintains he has no preference for either position.
“I suppose it’s always good to be able to cover a couple of positions. There are subtle differences. In the lineout, you’re in different positions. Scrums, you’re in different positions.
“Other than that, in general play, I am usually in my spot in the wider channels. The only real differences are around our set-piece, lineout and our maul.
“I enjoy it when there’s a bit of space out there. But honestly, as a team, I only do my job well if the middle does and vice versa, so we take pride in both the boys in the middle and the boys on the edge providing for each other.”
Although his Cork lineage had more GAA roots, Ahern began playing with Youghal at the age of nine before moving on to Dungarvan RFC and Waterpark, and has long since been well versed in Munster’s European history and the emotive energy generated by Anglo-Irish January clashes at Thomond Park akin to Saturdays clash with Saracens (kick-off 5.30pm).
“I suppose the first big memory was probably in 2008 when they won the Heineken Cup, and then I was able to go up to a few matches when I got a bit older, like 11 or 12, with my Dad. Coming up, seeing the streets full, the atmosphere was electric. You just know how special it is to the club.
“We’re hoping for a big crowd on Saturday and the last game against Stade we had a great atmosphere, so hopefully that can continue.”
After successive Round of 16 exits, Ahern admits: “We want to be getting further in competitions and in those big games – the Round of 16 – it’s the fine margins. Being more clinical, being tighter in defence. We’re heading in the right direction and hopefully we can write the wrongs and go better this year,” said Ahern, who highlighted the threat posed by Saracens’ maul and their power game.
“It is special,” he said of Saturday’s occasion. “We need a result at home and need to do it for the fans as well.”
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