Andy Farrell will need to make a tough decision about who will captain the British & Irish Lions in their 2025 venture to Australia in half a year’s time. This ample period allows for the development of new prospects and possibly unexpected entrants making their mark. However, when you take into consideration the extraordinary abilities of Caelan Doris, it seems that Farrell’s search might already be over.
This presumption isn’t all too daring as it’s a straightforward idea that a globally renowned athlete, who has earned the universal admiration of his fellow players and boasts a charming personality, along with a degree in psychology, could be the perfect choice. The professional era has seen Ireland offer up some esteemed Lions captains like Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, and Peter O’Mahony, and another supreme contender is unobtrusively waiting in the background.
Regardless of whether Doris is officially announced, as most predict, on Wednesday as Ireland’s captain for the upcoming November trials, this 26-year-old Leinster back-rower is every coach’s ideal player. Even on a drizzly Tuesday morning, he’s already eager for the next big match, revitalised and eyes sparkling after the previous Saturday’s victory over Munster in front of a crowd of 80,468 at Croke Park. According to him, he gets into the “zone”, maintaining his competitive drive and a constant performance on and off the pitch.
Behind his competent footwork, physical strength and football expertise that make him a formidable number eight, there’s more to Doris than meets the eye. His parents are both psychoanalysts and he is also the grandson of the late Michael Sweetman, a well-known industrialist and political figure who tragically perished in the Staines air crash of 1972 – suggesting he could have chosen a completely different career path. However, his devotion to his home county Mayo has always held him close to the game.
In June, during a trip down memory lane at my childhood home, I stumbled upon an old personal project from my Holy Communion when I was around 10 years old. Inside was a page dedicated to future aspirations and preferred living locations. What I found amusing was my youthful, yet clear, ambition to be either a rugby or a football player – something I don’t recall consciously pursuing. Further, the corresponding statement that expressed a desire to own houses in Mayo, London, and New York prompted similar mirth. I’d certainly be spending quite some time on the rugby field to make that a reality.
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The truth of who Doris is, however, lies not in the game but in his roots in Lacken, the place he calls home. The local post office and shop may have sadly succumbed to the pandemic, but his fondness for the region remains unwavering. He describes it as a delightful place that’s impossible to match on a day when the sun’s shining. His parents continue to live there, and he visits them as frequently as possible.
Lacken is a pastoral wonder with around 500 residents. The nearest village is a 10-minute journey away, and it’s about twice as long to get to the closest town. Doris’s primary school, within walking distance from his home, had a cosy population of 30 to 35 students spanning eight years. He had only one peer in his grade level.
He and the lone classmate, David, eventually became close friends. Later, jumping at the chance to study at Blackrock College, twelve-year-old Doris moved from Lacken. He speculates that his genetics might have landed him in the national team in any case but believes the journey was more due to nurturing than nature. Doris assures he had a rugby or a Gaelic football in hand from an early age, as they had a sizeable garden next to a school with a pitch. Attending Blackrock, a major rugby school, was a powerful continuation of this love for the sport. From the get-go, he was besotted.
Since starting his Rugby career, his momentum has been consistently climbing. As a towering 6ft 4in player, he captained the under-20s Ireland team and made his first appearance for Leinster in 2018. In 2020, under Johnny Sexton’s leadership, whom he deeply admired, he earned his first of 44 senior Ireland caps. “Initially, it was peculiar. I felt like an imposter: ‘How did I end up in the same locker room as him?'”
However, with Sexton’s recent retirement, Doris, who was in Cardiff promoting the Investec Champions Cup this week, is quickly stepping up as a pivotal figure for both Leinster and Ireland. He captained the national team for the first time against Italy in February and was named Leinster’s captain just last month. He’s intrigued by the psychological aspect of the game – “It’s a field I’m invested in…” – and the maturity the captaincy role brings to him as a player and an individual.
“I aim to maximise my potential both on the pitch and as a person. If there’s increased responsibility… it allows you to broaden your capabilities.” This encompasses his personal growth. “It can mean anything from being more candid with close ones or having heart-to-heart conversations. I also attend therapy sessions weekly and practice mindfulness to ensure mental balance.” Sea swimming, saunas, and recently, hot yoga, are part of his regular regime. “These activities offer a calming balance.”
Taking on a significant position in the Lions will certainly require plenty of mental and physical balance. Doris recalls watching the Lions in 2005 and 2009 with his father, Chris, at a village pub. The prospect of Australia 2025 has been a goal for a long time. “It’s quite an extraordinary opportunity, isn’t it? It is without a doubt a goal. There is a lot of rugby left to be played with Leinster and Ireland. But, indeed, I would be thrilled to join the tour.”
Naturally, anticipation is building for next month’s much-anticipated encounter with the All Blacks. The upcoming face-off marks the first time the teams are meeting since the disastrous World Cup quarter-final last year. This significant milestone occurred this week, but Doris presently has his attention centred on the upcoming chapter of his professional journey. “Undeniably, there are challenging times, but there are also numerous positive ones”, he voiced. “I get immense pleasure out of the entire adventure: the banter with the boys, the camaraderie, the exploring, the possibilities. I’m making an effort to take everything in.” Hailing from rural Lacken, our local lad has the potential to make an outstanding Lion’s leader. – Guardian