As many around Galway and Ireland were on the edge of their seats to see whether Joe Schmidt’s men could keep their hopes of retaining their Six Nations crown as they took on France at the Aviva Stadium at the weekend, 4,500 miles away in Seattle, Galwegian Tadhg Leader was slotting a last minute conversion to earn the USA a dramatic win against arch-rivals Canada.
The 30-25 win in front of a packed out crowd at the Starfire Sport Complex was the former Bish student’s second cap for the Eagles after making his debut in Santiago against Chile at the start of February. Coming off the bench in the second half of the opening round of the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship, Leader capped a dream debut scoring a try as well as kicking two conversions in a thumping 71-8 victory.
“It was a proud moment,” he says. “When I moved to America, it was definitely a goal of mine to qualify [via residency] to play for the USA, and to realise that in over 30 degrees in Santiago was special. It is a day I won’t forget.”
Leader’s route to the international stage has certainly been unique. Having impressed in schools rugby for first the Bish and then Roscrea College as well as underage at Galwegians RFC, the Castlegar native entered the Connacht academy in 2011 under the tutelage of now Connacht senior assistant coach Nigel Carolan. Having made a bright start to his professional career which saw him break into the senior team, Leader was struck down with a run of injuries that resulted in his “losing his love for the game”.
“My first year and half was very enjoyable but unfortunately I got injured and I struggled to get back. I kept getting injured for the last 18 months [of my time] at Connacht and I didn’t enjoy the game.”
‘I fell back in love with the game’
With Connacht agreeing to release him from his contract, it was not long until the flyhalf took the next step in his rugby journey. The Boston Irish Wolfhounds came calling, offering him an opportunity to play in the US. It was a chance which Leader grasped with both hands, leading him to rediscover a love for the game.
“It was amateur club rugby. I had a nine to five job and we would train twice a week with a game at the weekend. There was zero pressure. The social aspect was great and I fell back in love with the game.”
The three month sojourn on America’s east coast had re-energised Leader both mentally and physically, and with a zest for the game he looked towards getting back into the sport in a professional capacity. Italy was the destination for him, with Rugby Badia ASD, in Italy’s rugby heartlands, taking the punt on him. However, disaster stuck early-on as Leader’s injuries returned to haunt him in the form of a problematic shoulder.
“I needed a shoulder operation so I headed back to Ireland believing that was me done with rugby.”
Reassessing his priorities, he decided to pursue a sports business degree with Lindenwood University in Missouri. The scholarship would see Leader combine his studies while playing rugby for the university. Having upped sticks again to move back across the Atlantic, another setback was around the corner, with Leader being disqualified by USA Rugby from participating in college rugby as he had played at a professional level.
One door closes, another door opens
Having been effectively banned from putting on his boots for his university team, Leader threw himself into his studies and took up a new challenge; coaching.
“Teams asked me to help out with some coaching to help raise the level of rugby, particularly skills, in the area. I started coaching and playing with a local team called St Louis Royals and we managed to win the national championship for the first time in a decade. The coaching aspect was something I really enjoyed.”
He enjoyed the coaching experience so much Leader set up Rugby Consulting USA which provides coaching for players of all levels and has taken him all over the States.
“Yeah I have been up coaching in Alaska. It has been a bit random [but] it has opened up a lot of doors. I found from my experience in America that you need to have an open mind but also have balls to do things.”
But coaching has not been the only trade at which Leader has been able to turn his hand. The 27-year-old has dipped his toes in the world of sports agents, managing to broker deals for players including former Connacht men Ciaran Gaffney and Rory Parata to Italian outfit Zebre. And working in the world of sports is a career path that Leader would like to follow when he calls it quits with rugby for good.
“The sports market here [in America] is huge. I have had some experience with my work as an agent but working in a general manager role or as a CEO of a sports organisation is something that would interest me. I have secured a new five year visa so I have plenty of time to pursue plenty of avenues. I don’t doubt there will be bumps in the road but it is very exciting.”
Back to the pitch, Leader’s current location sees him plying his trade at the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby. The professional competition is in its infancy with 2019 being the second edition but Leader, who played with San Diego Legion in the first season, says the competition shows how much the sport has grown in the country in a short space of time.
“When I first came here [three and half years ago], initially rugby was kind of seen as football without pads, but the vast majority of people will know of it now. Rugby is on TV now so it is very accessible.
“The sevens team is number one on the circuit at the moment and the 15s had an amazing season last year where we won all our matches except for the defeat to Ireland in Dublin. Interest and standards have really grown and the league has definitely helped it.”
World Cup year
Like every international player in world rugby, Leader admits his goal is to get a place on the plane to the big rugby jamboree in Japan where the Eagles will take on England, France, Argentina, and Tonga in Pool C.
“I have now made my debut, so yeah, the World Cup is definitely the top goal for this year. It’s a great prospect for all the players to work for and I would be really happy to get on the plane. Hopefully I can perform well for New England in the upcoming games and get myself in the squad.”
And those upcoming games start this Saturday as New England welcome familiar faces to Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth; Connacht A and it is a match which Leader cannot wait to get stuck into.
“Yeah we have all four provincial A sides coming here over the next month but obviously the game on Saturday is more personal for me. My family are coming over for the match so it is going to be great. Because it is Connacht it has a bit more bite, so hopefully we can get a result so I can have the bragging rights the next time I go home.”
