The former Ireland, London Irish, Bristol, Cardiff, Harlequins, Munster and Leicester fly-half talks about his life in the game

I WAS born in London and came up through the English system, playing age-grade rugby with people like played Kyran Bracken, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio – all that vintage, but I declared for Ireland when I was 21. Both my parents are Irish and my whole family is Irish, so it’s in my blood, and I grew up watching people like Tony Ward and Ollie Campbell.
London Irish was my club from the age of eight – I was part of the first mini and junio...