Ireland International Ciarán Frawley has revealed that he never considered a switch to represent Australia, despite being the Wallabies having "interest".
The utility back, who made his first Six Nations start for Ireland last week against Wales, was born in Sydney. However he moved to Dublin at a young age where he represented Skerries RFC at youth level before making his Leinster debut in 2018.
Frawley has been a topic of many an Irish rugby conversation over the past last year, with some believing he should be the heir to Johnny Sexton's number 10 jersey despite seldom playing in out-half. There may not have been a discussion had Frawley decided to play for Australia.
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Rugby: Ciarán Frawley On Wallabies Interest
Frawley's first call-up to Ireland came in 2021 for the Autumn Nations series but he didn't make an appearance. He was then called up for the 2022 Summer Tour to New Zealand. He made two non-Test match appearances for Ireland against the Maori All Blacks, starting both at 10.
This meant he was still eligible to play for Australia as he hadn't made a test appearance. His spot in the squad wasn't a certainty so there was a real possibility he could be approached to play for Australia.
However that was never an idea for Frawley, who said that he knew there was interest from Australia but none from himself.
I was in and out of camps from 2021 and I felt my time was coming. I had a few injuries along the way and obviously I was still qualified for Australia.
But I never had a phone call with Eddie Jones. I knew there was interest from over there, but I was never going to go.
I’ve lived in Ireland since I was three years old, Ireland is my home, I don’t want to move to the other side of the world when I felt I had the potential to do what I actually wanted to do.”
Ciarán Frawley can be considered a victim of his own success. He has flourished in many different positions in the backline but he hasn't been able to nail down one spot because of that versatility.
He came through as an out-half initially at Leinster, then made a switch to play at inside centre around 2020/2021 and this season has played several games at fullback for Leinster and it was at fullback where Frawley got his first start for Ireland against Wales.
Not being able to cement a role at either Leinster or Ireland has made it difficult to decide whether he is good enough to take over at 10 for Ireland. But that talk doesn't seem to have effected Frawley.
I just want to play. That’s the main thing. I want to play in big games. The way I see it is I think like a 10, I feel like I play like a 10 but I probably have the ability to jump into other positions and do a job there.
So for me it is understanding that and then knowing that it will get me into the big games. That’s what I take the satisfaction from.”
A try-scorer in his last outing against Wales, this could be the start of a glittering International career fans have been waiting for.
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