Ulster's Jacob Stockdale says that injuries "at bad times" have been a huge factor in his stop-start Ireland career.
Ulster's Jacob Stockdale said that injuries "at bad times" have been a huge factor in his stop-start Ireland career.
The 29-year-old burst onto the scene for Ireland in 2018, winning Player of the Championship in that year's Six Nations Championship after setting a then tournament record for most tries scored with seven as Ireland won the Grand Slam.
He then scored three tries in the 2019 World Cup, but a combination of unfortunate injuries and James Lowe's consistent form and availability have saw him fall out of favour and he has not been a regular starter for Andy Farrell since 2020.
"I haven't had terrible injuries, they have just come at bad times apart from my ankle when I was out for the full season (2021-22)," he told the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.
"That was the only big major one, the rest were just timing. I wrecked my knee before playing Munster (January 2021) and it was the week before the Six Nations, so I missed that or November last year, I played against Fiji, I had a good game then I felt my hamstring in the last six minutes and it's been things like that that have set me back.
"In my younger years I struggled coming back from injury, not the healing aspect more finding form after injuries. That is why the injuries have played such a big part in my career."
'It's incredibly frustrating I haven't played every game for Ireland'
Stockdale is hoping to make up for lost time and add to his 40 Ireland caps to date by being named in Farrell's squad for this year's Six Nations, which will be announced on Wednesday.
He has featured regularly for Ulster this season and can cover both the wing and full-back positions.
Stockdale opened up on the podcast about his frustrations at not being afforded more game time with Ireland but praised Lowe for holding down the starting spot on the wing in recent years.
"When I was out for that year, Lowey played class and he has consistently played very well for Ireland the last few years. It's been really frustrating and really annoying," he added.
"Every player, we all think we're better than our competition, if you don't you shouldn't be there, so it's incredibly frustrating over the last three or four years I haven't played every game for Ireland, but that's the nature of it.
"Obviously I'm annoyed and I'm thinking Faz should be giving me more game time, but equally Lowey has played that well so I don't think I can consider myself too hard done by.
"Lowey always does the opposite of what I do in that he gets injured at perfect times, he goes campaign to campaign!" Stockdale joked.
'I wouldn't want to rule out move abroad'
Stockdale and Ulster have enjoyed a much-improved United Rugby Championship and European campaign this season after a 14th place league finish and a dispiriting Champions Cup exit to Bordeaux last year.
They are third in the URC and will host Ospreys in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup in April.
While Stockdale said talk of picking up silverware this year is "probably a bit of us" he does believe this Ulster team "have the possibility to do it" in the next few campaigns.
"It's not beyond the realms of possibility, but I think our team still has a lot of growth to do. There are lads still finding their feet but finding their feet really well."
Stockdale's contract at the province runs until the end of the 2026-27 season and he has not ruled out moving onto pastures new later in his career.
"I've loved playing for Ulster, there have been times where it's been tough but on the whole, I grew up watching Ulster and dreaming of playing for them and to make it a reality is incredible.
"That being said, I would love to experience something different in life and maybe at the tail end of the career players start looking to something different.
"I wouldn't want to rule it out completely, the idea of living in Japan, France or Australia for a while sounds really cool."
Category: General Sports
