BEWARE OF THE fair-weather swimmers and warm sea temperatures at this time of year. Cian Healy is the all-year-round type who enjoys the nourishment of a winter dip off Bull Wall and a post-swim coffee in Happy Out.
“It’s not cold enough for me now,” the Leinster and Ireland prop laughs. “The sea temp is up around 15 and 16 degrees now, I like it eight or nine as you’re probably not getting the same recovery benefits as the winter swims.”
Healy in Ireland camp ahead of the World Cup. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
Instead, Healy has had to turn to ice baths to soothe the aching limbs after a painful week-four block of fitness work in Ireland camp, with many of the players admitting the sessions have come as a ‘shock to the system.’
Healy is no stranger to pushing himself to the limits physically, the 31-year-old bouncing back from the brink of retirement to head towards a third World Cup in the shape, and arguably form, of his career with another central contract already signed.
“I enjoy searching for the little thing that will help me get better and that’s where I suppose the sea swimming and things like that come in,” Healy continues.
“I’m constantly looking at things that might help me to bring me that little bit further, whether it’s helping you to recover or anything. But at the same time, you can’t really replace going to the dark place and just doing miserable fitness sessions.
It doesn’t take long in Healy’s company to recognise he is in peak condition, possibly the best he’s ever been. Having dropped weight a couple of seasons ago to become a more dynamic player, the loosehead is as lean, agile and nimble as possible, while retaining the strength and power required in the modern game.
After his well-documented brush with early retirement after surgery on a disc in his back in 2015, few could have envisaged — himself included — such a resurgence in form to become the cornerstones of the Ireland and Leinster packs. And a couple of months shy of his 32nd birthday, there is no sign of him slowing down.
“I didn’t think about anything really past a week with that injury,” he says, when asked if he ever thought he’d be sitting here ahead of a third World Cup with Ireland.
“That was a weird time where you’re more worried about your health more than your future in rugby and whether you can write your name and that sort of thing. That was a very different level of stress.
“But then, as I continued to get fitter and started getting more benefits and started feeling more and more like myself, I started to think along the lines of ‘how much more can I play? I feel like I’m getting better, surely I’ve got more time.’
The loosehead is as fit as ever. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
“Everyone always says the age thing but it’s how you feel and how you perform so I’ve always kind of held myself to that.”
It may be a case that Healy is hungrier now than before after it was nearly taken away from him.
“Possibly, yeah,” he agrees. “It definitely gives you an insight into work rate and taking things for granted like that and what extra work you need to do to take that opportunity and do the best with it.
“I suppose eventually when you do go out, to be able to look back and go ‘I gave that everything’. That won’t be for a while though.”
Being rewarded with a new two-year IRFU contract at the end of last season is just one indicator of Healy’s form and continued longevity, at an age when other players have found it difficult to earn extensions from the union.