Leinster legend Isa Nacewa gives his take on James Lowe's departure

Leinster legend Isa Nacewa admits that he is surprised that Friday’s United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the Bulls will be the last game that James Lowe, their all-time leading try scorer, plays for the club.

After nine seasons in Irish rugby, Lowe is set to move to Japan, and Nacewa couldn’t be more complimentary about the impact the winger has made.

Fijian international full-back Nacewa, who had two spells with Leinster, winning four Heineken Cup titles and two Pro 12/Pro 14 titles, remembers picking Lowe up from Dublin when he first landed at Dublin Airport.

“It’s interesting that he doesn’t get a contract but becomes the all-time leading try-scorer for Leinster in the last game. Oh, look, he’s been absolutely superb since he landed, and we picked him up from the airport in Dublin 10 seasons ago now,” said Nacewa, who has just become the head of athletic performance at the Auckland Rugby Union.

“He’s helped mentor the Tommy O’Briens and the Jimmy O’Briens, had so much influence on the club, and is just a great human at the same time. But the decision’s hard. I’m not privy to any of the decisions, but you know, he’s been a weapon for Leinster and Ireland

“So was I surprised? Yeah, absolutely. Don’t know the ins and outs of what we’re on. But James has obviously made the decision that’s right for him and his family.”

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Nacewa points out that there will be extra fire in the belly to give Lowe the send-off that he deserves, but knows that emotions will have to be kept in check at the same time.

“There’s more than the match on the line. And Tommy O’Brien has spoken in the last week about the players that are leaving Leinster. James, in particular, and the influence he has had. Playing at Croke Park on a Friday night is special,” he told RugbyPass.

“There’s always that extra fire in the belly when there’s someone as important to the club as James when he’s leaving. So there’ll be extra fire in the belly for this match for them.

“But it’s about containing all that emotion. James won’t want to make a big deal of it. He’ll just want to get into a stride of things, not let it be a distraction and get into the groove of what the week is and how to build for a final.

“But when there’s emotion on the line, I think it’s about keeping that clear head, but it’s still a great occasion to be at Croke Park playing a URC Grand Final.”