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Jamison Gibson-Park hints at career length with contract up in air
By PA
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park believes his late rise to international rugby could help prolong his career after winning his 50th Ireland cap in Friday’s 27-17 Guinness Six Nations success over Wales.
Andy Farrell’s side set up a Triple Crown showdown with Scotland on the final weekend of the championship by grinding out a “scrappy” bonus-point victory in Dublin.
New Zealand-born Gibson-Park has developed into a key player for Ireland since making his Test debut aged 28 years and eight months in October 2020 after qualifying on residency grounds the previous year.
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The 34-year-old, who joined Leinster from Wellington-based Hurricanes in 2016, feels he still has plenty to offer following a landmark outing, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon.
“I feel pretty good in my body man, if I’m honest,” he said. “Pretty happy with how I’m feeling and I suppose it takes a little bit more work if you’re a player of my age.
“But in the same vein, I was late getting started. I was nearly 29 when I debuted for Ireland and up to that point I probably hadn’t really been the number-one figure in any of the teams I was in.
“I was coming off the bench a lot, so I suppose I hadn’t played a lot of minutes up until then.
“I don’t know whether that adds in as well to the factor, but I feel pretty good and I’m looking forward to the next little while.
“I still feel as though there’s a lot to improve on in my game and the team’s game, so it’s hugely exciting.”
Ireland registered a third consecutive Six Nations win but were made to work hard by a dogged Wales side.
Gibson-Park, who was briefly forced off in a first-half blood substitution before returning, said: “I suppose it was a little bit scrappy, wasn’t it?
“But ultimately I think a win in the end and a bonus point was what were looking for.
“We have to hand a bit of credit to Wales, they were pretty good and stuck it to us like we knew they would and made a proper Test match out of it.”
Gibson-Park has won two Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2023, and started all three British and Irish Lions Tests against Australia last summer.
His achievements at international level have far exceeded initial expectations.
“I’m hugely grateful to chalk up 50 caps,” said Gibson-Park.
“(After qualifying for Ireland) I probably wasn’t getting the game time (at Leinster) to push for a spot, but it just so happened that throughout the Covid year I played a bit and got a chance.
“At that time we were probably struggling as a team as well but we gained a bit of momentum to get things going.
“Things clicked around November 2021 and that’s when things really took off.”
Head coach Andy Farrell is determined to end a mixed campaign on a high.
Ireland romped to a record 42-21 victory away to England in round three but were not entirely convincing in home wins over Italy and Wales following a 36-14 opening loss in France.
“We should never take a Triple Crown for granted at all,” said Farrell.
“They come few and far between within a career so to be in a position to try and perform and get that over the line makes it a special week for us.”
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