Michael Bolton
It has been quite the year for Munster and Ireland winger Calvin Nash, who has taken full advantage of the opportunities that have arisen.
Having been a crucial part of the Munster side who won the URC in 2023, Nash went on to made his Ireland debut that summer.
While he missed out on the squad for the World Cup last year, the Munster winger did not let that dent his form, and was key to Ireland retaining their Six Nations crown, starting all five games.
The 27-year-old was also part of the side that drew the series in South Africa.
“I was delighted to make my debut”, said Nash.
“I didn’t know how it was going to go and it was massively disappointing not to make the World Cup squad. It was hard to know where I stood.
“Coming into the Six Nations I kinda thought I might get one game off the bench but ended up starting.
“I just kept starting every week. I was beaming. I didn’t think I would be selected so high up.”
Nash’s Six Nations debut came away to France, where he admitted nerves were taking over ahead of his first start for his country.
The winger scored his first Ireland try, as Ireland recorded an impressive 39-17 win.
“The training week we had, I was trying my best to get all over my detail so I could try to express myself and not be caught up with all the calls, where do I have to be?
“As much work as I did, I couldn’t shake my nerves for the French game, I was up the walls.
“It was so extreme. Faz pulled me over in the captain’s run and was like, ‘hey lad, what’s going on with you, you are totally different’.
“To me I was hiding it perfectly well, but clearly I wasn’t. Having a chat with him and Gary [Keegan, performance coach] put me at ease.
“The self-doubt that was creeping in and snowballing seemed to stop. It was a good intervention by them.”
The URC got back underway last weekend, as Munster defeated Connacht in a thrilling 35-33 win in Thomond Park.
Nash admitted he was screaming at the game, with his return to action set to come this weekend against Zebre. One player who impressed for Connacht was Mack Hansen, who will have his eyes on Nash’s Ireland jersey.
Nash said he is looking forward to the competition for places, but says it is important to play his normal game ahead of the November internationals.
“I think it is important just to play the game I have always been playing and not change the way I have been playing.
“It is unreal to have Mack back. He is an unbelievable player, and I can’t imagine the last few months have been easy for him.
“Some competition is great to have, and hopefully brings out the best in me.”
This Munster side have shown they can win silverware, with Graham Rowntree’s side winning the 2023 URC title, their first trophy in 12 years.
Last season, they came up short in the semi-finals to eventual winners Glasgow, while Northampton ended their European journey in the last 16.
Having shown what they are capable of, Nash says consistency will be key to Munster this season.
“If we could be more consistent with our performances, that will help what way we are in Europe, that will help what way we are in the URC.
“It was massively disappointing the way we ended the season, we would definitely like to finish better and in a final again.
“We nearly won the URC doing it the hardest possible way. We went away to Glasgow, we went away to Leinster and we went away to the Stormers. That’s not easy to do being on the road the whole time, and we did it. It was similiar to what Glasgow did this year.”