#cjstander

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It is a well-known fact that there are 4 provinces in Ireland: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht. Irish rugby unites us. It is one of the few sports where we cross the border to play as one. As a result, the IRFU has found many talented players from across the country, North and South of the border, as well as from all corners of the globe.

This is a very important factor as my favourite player from the Munster team, is none other than the South African native and proud Irishman, CJ Stander (pictured above). The Munster and Ireland flanker/Number 8 has just been nominated for the 2020 Six Nations Player of the Tournament. He started playing for Munster back in 2012 on a 2-year contract after being told he was ‘too small’ for the South African international team. He later qualified for the Irish team through a 3-year residency in Ireland.   He has won many a Man of the Match awards for Munster and Ireland alike.

As is with most rugby players, Stander has faced many injuries, the most notable one has to be the double cheek and eye socket fracture he sustained during the Six Nations opening match against England in 2019. He was ruled out for 4 weeks. However, it must be said that he CLEARLY doesn’t have the pain threshold of a normal human being as he recalled being run over by his dad’s truck on the family farm when he was 6, saying that it was worse than the rugby injury. He had also broken his nose 6 times between December and February of 2019! 6 TIMES!

CJ Stander is a proud Irishman, I like to believe that the South African management is kicking themselves for rejecting him all those years ago for being ‘too small’. He is a truly inspirational player and his abilities on the pitch are phenomenal. He stands proud for province and country and belts out Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland’s Call, louder than any of the rest! (excluding Peter O’Mahony, who belts out every note!) For these reasons, it is undeniable that Stander is a special asset in both the Munster and Irish team.

 Next week we have....