EVEN AHEAD OF a potential Leinster debut on the recent Guinness Pro14 trip to Zebre, Jack Dunne didn’t waste any opportunity to catch up on his academic studies, using the plane journey to glance over lecture notes.
The 20-year-old second row was firmly in rugby mode, preparing to make his first senior appearance for Leo Cullen’s side off the bench, but any spare minutes he has away from duty is spent catching up on his college work.
Dunne has made two senior appearances for Leinster. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
Dunne is currently juggling theoretical physics in Trinity College with his rugby apprenticeship through the Leinster academy and despite his high intellect, the nature of the course means he can’t afford to put academic work to one side at any stage during the season.
The former St Michael’s College man achieved 625 points in his Leaving Certificate and not only received a rugby scholarship from Trinity but is one of 36 students in the country to be part of the prestigious Naughton Foundation.
“It is basically physics with loads and loads of maths,” he explained recently. “When I was choosing what course I was going to do, I thought about business. In the end, I didn’t find it interesting. I always found physics interesting, spending time on YouTube watching random stuff, like black holes and the likes.”
Talented off the pitch, and now very much excelling on it.
His study notes left Scott Fardy, who was sitting beside him on the plane over to Italy, more than a little bemused but Dunne is not the only high-achiever within the Leinster set up, with Josh Murphy studying medicine and sub-academy member Cormac Daly is studying astrophysics in UCD.
“He makes me feel incredibly stupid,” Fardy laughed, in conversation with The42.
“Theoretical physics. I sat next to him on the plane the other day and some of the stuff he was looking at was just blowing my mind, I could never start to begin what he’s doing with that stuff.”
Dunne, a member of last year’s Ireland U20s side, was an unused sub in the Pro14 win over Scarlets last month before getting his opportunity in Parma, coming off the bench in the final minutes of the province’s 40-24 victory.
Against the Southern Kings last Friday, an injury to Mick Kearney early in the second half presented Dunne with a big chance to show his worth alongside Ross Molony, playing 38 minutes of the nine-try rout at the RDS.
“He’s capable,” Fardy continues. “He was surprised to get the amount of minutes he got on the weekend but Jack did an excellent job.”
Having impressed for the Leinster ‘A’ side during their Celtic Cup campaign earlier in the season, Dunne is looking to develop his lineout calling in addition to his noted rucking and carrying ability.
The 6ft 7in lock is a natural athlete and has already showed his dynamism around the field, while his academic and rugby intellect gives him a solid footing to fine-tune his role as a lineout operator.
The second row in training yesterday. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
“You start with where abouts you are on the field,” he says. “You would have a plan as to what lineouts I am going to call in each position.
“You are not going through a list of 100 calls in your head. You would have three or four. You see what the opposition are doing and you make your call based off that.”
One of four former St Michael’s students currently competing for opportunities in Leinster’s second row department alongside James Ryan, Molony and Oisin Dowling, Dunne will be hoping for further game time when Cullen’s side host the Cheetahs on Friday night [KO 7.35pm, eir Sport/Premier Sports].
Fardy, who yesterday confirmed he will remain at Leinster next season, is due to return to the starting XV for the round 17 clash at the RDS, and will add welcome experience to the ranks at a time when the province are without their international front-liners.