Jack Conan credits Andy Farrell's push for openness and targets return after shoulder injury
On 4 November 2026, Ireland back row Jack Conan told the Ireland Rugby Social podcast he wants to continue playing and praised head coach Andy Farrell for encouraging players to speak more openly about their feelings. He described a change in camp culture under Farrell and outlined his plans to return from a recent shoulder injury.
Conan, who has won 62 caps since his Irish debut in 2015, was part of Farrell's Ireland squad that won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023. He has spent the majority of his international career working with Farrell, who was promoted to the head coach role in 2019 after serving as a defence coach during Joe Schmidt's reign. Conan said Farrell's appointment has led to greater openness among players and faster settling of newcomers.
On the Ireland Rugby Social podcast Conan described Farrell's approach in the dressing room: "He says 'I want you to be open and say how you are feeling whether it's good or bad, no wrong answers'." He added: "I think when you are vulnerable or open it lets someone else be the same and it builds connection. I think it's been a real strong quality of the squad."
Conan reflected on how the environment has shifted from previous norms: "Before, you'd be nervous and rattled and you wouldn't want to share [feelings] with anyone publicly in [team] meetings. Now, Faz would say 'do you all understand?' and people say now 'I don't' or 'I'm not sure'. You always fear being wrong to some degree, but if you have the best intentions and make a mistake it's fine. It's been a huge thing."
He sustained a shoulder injury while scoring a try in Leinster's 48-23 victory over Clermont and the issue, suffered in Leinster's Champions Cup win earlier this month, will rule him out of Ireland's November Nations Championship games against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa in Dublin. The injury timing and selection impact were confirmed in Conan's interview.
The Bray native, a two-time British and Irish Lion, said he is motivated by the memory of his mother Ann, who died in August. "She used to text me before every single game and say 'good luck, we're proud'. That's all she ever said," a visibly emotional Conan said. "That's a big thing for me now, enjoy it and make her proud. Take the stresses as a good thing and that's what I want to do."
The 34-year-old acknowledged he is in the twilight years of his career but said he feels capable of continuing while he still has the desire: "Bar the injury, my body feels good. As I'm getting older, I'm not getting weaker. I was never unbelievably quick, so physically I'm not declining, I'm still strong," he explained. "I think when you get a little bit older, it's do you still really want it? Do you have it in you to show up on the hard days? Sometimes rehabbing now when I'm on a bike, I'm staring down the barrel and those are the real challenging moments. "I still love what I do and the environment so that's what motivates you. Whether I play one, two or three years, we'll have to wait and see but right now I feel good and that doggedness is still there. "I get a bit sick other lads are playing - it spurs me on which I think is healthy. I still want to compete."
Conan said he is aiming to be back and available for next year's Six Nations and is desperate to feature at the 2027 Rugby World Cup next October.