'Ten years ago I was living in New York and working in a bar'
Long-serving Sale out-half AJ MacGinty believes his time working in a noisy New York bar ten years ago will serve him well when he looks to cope with the distractions of playing at Racing 92’s atmospheric indoor stadium on Sunday. Much has been made in the build-up to the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final in Paris about how the arena in Paris is comparable to a disco.
However, MacGinty reckons his long-ago stint behind the bar at the Pig N’ Whistle on 36th Street will now come in handy all these years later. “It stayed open until 4am so it was pretty lively at times. A good DJ, good music, good food, good bartenders there too. It was a good time. They threw big parties there so I will be used to it,” he quipped ahead of a glamour European tie which encapsulates how far the 32-year-old has travelled in the game.
The Dubliner had only gone to America on a one-year working visa to enjoy the craic with some friends, yet he is a decade later reflecting on the final weeks of an excellent six-year stint at Sale, the club who have had to recruit England out-half George Ford as his replacement when the USA captain switches to Bristol in the offseason and goes working again with his old title-winning coach from Connacht, Pat Lam.
Asked by RugbyPass to put his unexpected thriving career into context, MacGinty said: “It’s my ten-year anniversary of being a bartender in New York, so a lot has changed. I was living in New York, working in a bar and living with my mates and deciding what I was going to do at the end of a one-year visa.
“I was like, ‘I’m staying in New York, I’m not going home’. My dad said, ‘No, you need to get out of the pub and focus on your studies or do something else’. An opportunity opened up in Atlanta to go down and study and play rugby and I guess Pat Lam then gave me the opportunity to play in Connacht.
“There are so many people that have been so supportive and believed in me when I didn’t when I was young. When I left Dublin it was like, ‘You only went professional if you were a superstar’. That was the thought I had in my head and I wasn’t a superstar. It’s been crazy. I have loved every minute of it and there are still many years to go.
“I didn’t even think of it like that but it’s nice of you to say that,” added MacGinty when it was put to him that it must reflect well on him that Sale had to recruit Ford as his replacement for next season? “Yeah, George Ford is a class player and he will be brilliant up here. I’m happy the club will be in a very strong place with George Ford here.”
How would MacGinty like to be remembered by Sale when he leaves at the end of June? “I don’t know. As a person, I feel like I have grown so much. Since the age of 21, I have left home, lived in New York, Atlanta, Galway and Sale and I have been here six years and had my two kids here, so this is always a special place for me. The head still isn’t around it, I haven’t moved yet, I haven’t even thought about it.
“I am so focused on giving everything I can here but I’m thankful for this club and the people involved in it for the patience they had in making me a better rugby player. There has been a hell of a lot of growth and development in me as a person and as a player. The least you can do is just reciprocate that and give everything you can. I have always tried to give everything to my club and for my teammates. That is how I would like to be remembered, I guess.”
It was Steve Diamond who signed MacGinty for Sale after Lam contacted him from Connacht. Even though the out-half was born and raised in Dublin, he wasn’t Irish qualified due to his decision to represent America and the IRFU weren’t willing to extend the one-year deal he had when helping the western province to win the PRO12 in 2015/16.
Having had four and a half seasons under Diamond and a year and a half under current boss Alex Sanderson, the half-back is well positioned to compare their tenures at the Manchester club. “I was 25 when I came over here under Steve and I remember he would always say ‘you’re raw’ and I was.
“With Steve it was more mental, being a very physical hard-nosed team. That was the nature of the team. If I was older when I got here I probably would have appreciated that more but I was still craving more insight and more learning. Since Alex has come in there is probably a lot more detail on the technical side of things, the tactical side of things which I really appreciate as well.
“I know there is that balance between the two. Like, not one size fits all and I probably didn’t get my best out of myself when I was with Steve because I was still learning a lot and was still trying to find my way. It’s different times in your career and because I want to go into coaching when I am older, it’s a learning for me on how to deal with different personalities and what they want out of their career and what they need at that time.”
The last occasion Sale were in France, MacGinty was an eleventh-hour casualty. His wife went into labour with their second child and the out-half missed the January pool trip to Clermont. “My child was due to be born on Saturday but didn’t arrive until early Sunday morning. I still tried to get out on the Sunday but I had to stay with my wife and baby girl. That game is a bit of a blur because I didn’t have much sleep.
“A big thing for me is it’s my last few months at the club. The detail since Al has come in has definitely made us better players but it is also the relationships we have had for the long time this group has been together, there have been a lot of lads here for many years.
“Jono (Ross) came in my second year, Faf (de Klerk) my second year, the du Preezs my third year so three or four years we have been together and that means a lot for me and in terms of our cohesion and stuff on the pitch, that should add a lot as well. It’s really important in these sort of games – a big exciting game for us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
13 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
19 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
19 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
13 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
19 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
13 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
13 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
19 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
13 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to comments