'That’s the dream': Kiwi-born URC star Jansen lays out Test ambitions

Amid his mum’s misgivings, Sean Jansen was something of a late starter in rugby, but he is certainly making up for lost time now.

The Connacht Rugby No.8 is the top try scorer in the BKT URC this season having touched down twice in last weekend’s victory over the Scarlets to take his tally to eight.

He has also had his first taste of the international arena with Ireland A as he sets his sights on his ultimate dream of wearing the famous green jersey on the Test stage.

While he was born and raised in New Zealand, he has Irish eligibility through his grandparents, while Galway has become very much a home from home for him, his partner Sade and their 18-month-old son Izaiah.

Growing up in Dunedin, he initially focused on football given his mother’s concerns about him picking up the oval ball.

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“I loved watching the All Blacks or the Highlanders whenever they were on,” he says.

“But my mum is a nurse and she is pretty against rugby.

“My old man loves it, but my mum didn’t like it because she has seen all the injuries.

“So I didn’t play rugby until U13s at school when my mates got me to play. I found a love for it and ended up being quite good at it.

“It shows you don’t have to be playing since you were five years old. You can start later.”

When he did take up the sport, Jansen initially played behind the scrum.

“I was just crash ball in the backs,” he says.

“I wasn’t that big, but got the size when I was in my late teens and moved into the forwards.

“I’ve always loved the physicality. In New Zealand, every lunchtime you’re playing rugby or bullrush. That’s the way it is there, just running at someone and bumping someone off. It’s always been my thing.”

Jansen was also a late starter in terms of taking up the sport professionally. Having played for the Green Island club in Dunedin and also for North Otago, his big break came after he made a highlights video on the advice of his uncle, Luke, who worked for the Institute of Sport in Australia.

That led to him receiving a call from his uncle on New Year’s Eve 2021 to say Leicester were interested in him. Within three weeks, the then 22-year-old was on a flight to England.

After a season and a half with the Tigers, during which he made 15 appearances and scored five tries, Jansen decided to take up an offer from Connacht, heading to the land of his maternal grandparents in 2023.

“They both left Ireland when they were 17 or 18 and met on the boat to New Zealand,” he revealed.

“Back then, it was a two to three month trip.

“I was always proud to be Irish and it’s been pretty cool to come over here and meet all these family members I’ve never known.”

He found it easy to settle it, with his new base reminding him of life back in Dunedin.

“The beaches and the culture of going for coffee and going for breakfast, it’s similar to Galway, and it’s a Uni town as well. There are a lot of similarities between the two. Both are cousins of the big cities.”

His time in the west of Ireland has also seen him become a father.

“It’s changed my life so much for the better,” he says.

“It’s made me a bit more chilled out. It’s been such a good experience. You lose a game and you are distraught and you see your son smiling and it changes your mood very quickly.”

The 6ft 3ins, 18st 7lbs Jansen has become an increasingly important member of the Connacht squad with his powerful carrying and his try-scoring threat close to the line.

“It’s a proper rugby club,” he says.

“My first home game was against Leinster and the support, the volume, the noise took me by surprise.”

Next up for the 26-year-old is Friday night’s derby clash against Ulster Rugby in Belfast, with Stuart Lancaster’s team looking for a fourth straight league win.

“Stu is a top coach. He is the type of person that can walk in a room and control a room. He has that respect about him,” he said.

“He has definitely made us tighter. It’s enjoyable to go in every day, especially with the new facilities, which are so good.

“I’m really enjoying playing here and the performances have started to come.”

Jansen’s own performances have seen him selected for Emerging Ireland and Ireland A in the past year. Now moving up to Test level is very much the goal.

“I’ve always been someone that’s liked shooting as high as possible and there was the pull to play footy in Ireland, where my heritage is, and hopefully one day play for the national side,” he said.

“That’s the dream. I want to get in there more than anything. I want to play with the best, play international footie. Ireland has become my home and I would love to go and wear that green jersey.”