One hundred and two years on from his great-grandfather founding one of Ireland greatest rugby clubs, Jamie Osborne will make his home debut for Ireland
by Derek Foley · Irish MirrorThe emergence of Jamie Osborne at Leinster has been one of the highlights in Irish rugby this last year.
But, historically, he is hardly a flash in the pan.
His two-game breakthrough on last summer's tour to South Africa, two further games as a sub this month, and his expected starting home debut this weekend have been over a century in the making.
Jamie's great grandfather Bill, along with Laddy Mooney, founded Naas rugby club in 1922, the very same club Jamie has played minis, schoolboy and senior AIL.
Moving even further on Osborne may yet prove a Lions tour 'bolter' this summer - there is a lot at stake for him in his first Aviva start, against Fiji on Saturday.
So far, so 2024 good for Osborne, there has been a lot achieved - four caps - but he knows there is still more to do.
“To play in some of the big Leinster games at the end of last season was definitely class and then obviously South Africa went well for myself so I’m pretty happy with how things are going this year, hopefully I can keep kicking on and retain spots in teams," says the 24 year-old.
“I’ve been lucky to be involved as well the last couple of weeks. I’ve covered different positions as well which is good experience I suppose.
“From a personal point of view, obviously there’s definitely some other things I could have done better as well. As a team we probably wanted to perform better than we showed.
"Argentina was definitely a step up from New Zealand in terms of how we attacked the game at the start. I thought I had a decent enough impact on the Argentina game when I came on but we were probably a bit inaccurate and ill-disciplined in the second half, but definitely an improvement and we’re hoping to improve again this week."
There is credit everywhere for unusual actors in Jamie's history; take Naas Rugby Club and Naas CBS, for instance.
But then, if that's the player's provenance, it's only the story-opener for a young man who is expected to be securely installed on the Ireland side by RWC 2027.
Says former Naas captain, current vice-president, former coach at minis and, of course, brother of Geordan, Ross Murphy: "Jamie is a very talented young man, he has developed and developed his game since beginning in mini-rugby.
"He is an outstanding athlete, the kind of player that could so easily have been a GAA star. We have a very good GAA club in the Naas (four in-a-row county champions who have just lost out to Cuala in 'rip-roaring' Leinster battle) and Jamie's dynamism would have lent a lot to them.
"He is maybe the eldest of what we consider to be a bunch of very talented youngsters down here, there is Jamie's bother Andrew in the Leinster Academy while the backline on our AIL 1B team is electric.
"Out-half Paddy Taylor is 18, centre Jack Sheridan and winger Charly Sheridan are 19 and we have had a number of provincial scouts, not just from Leinster, down here. "
Having made it to the national stage Osborne has enjoyed his recent run, is excited about the idea that this Saturday will be his first start, that he will be doing 'one' job not covering 'five', that his family, dad Joe and Mom Fiona, will be present.
Says the Leinster star: "I've loved it, definitely once you get the first cap there's just that relief of getting it done.
"Playing at home, the anthems, it was special. I know the All Blacks game didn't go to plan, but even to stand in front of the Haka for the first time was definitely a special experience.
"It can be difficult at times knowing all the roles of launch moves, but I've been doing it in camp for a while now and I'm kind of used to it. When you're No 23 on the bench you've to know everything basically, you've to cover everything, so I'm kind of getting used to it.
“I remember my dad Joe always used to bring myself and Andrew to games when we were young. I suppose the memories, watching Ireland win were obviously the best ones.
“I remember some of the tough losses as well but it’s very special to be able to play in them now and have the family watch me play."
Ross Murphy coached Osborne at mini-rugby level and remembers his dad, Joe, as a fine full-back while mother Fiona was a stalwart when the kids needed lifts to training and matches.
"It's big operation here at Naas when it comes to under-age rugby, we have people such as our former scrum-half Miack Cahill, Willie Downey, Conor and Richard Brophy who do trojan work.
"The mini-rugby (which works more or less up to under-13) numbers are somewhere between 500-550 and it is fantastic to see how many people are willing to help out.
"We are proud of the internationals who have played for us, my brother Geordan, Tadhg Beirne, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip and others but just as proud of former players and the parents who devote so much time to helping out. They will all be watching Jamie and all can take great pride - and some small credit - at his progress."
And there are more Osbornes floating about with Jamie, still very much still the hyper-local hero, adding of the people and a place that means so much to him:
“My younger brothers are still playing minis and youths in Naas. They love going to the games, they'll be excited."
"I’m not sure yet if they’re going to be professionals but they love going to it, love the whole experience and probably love the fact myself and Andrew are playing week-in, week-out for Leinster.
“There is less players that come up through that pathway, and I get a lot of texts every time I’m involved in any sort of game and I can definitely feel how proud everyone is and it definitely makes me happy to make them proud.
"So it’s definitely special to be part of it and hopefully it might give other younger players who want to become professionals, it kind of gives them confidence and look up to us."
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