A decade ago, at only 16 years of age, Calvin Nash was already standing out as a remarkable player for Crescent Comprehensive. They had grabbed the Munster Schools Senior Cup, triumphing over Ardscoil Rís in Thomond Park’s inaugural all-Limerick final. Unfortunately, in his third year as part of the team, they lost to CBC in Musgrave Park’s final by a narrow margin of 9-8.
Gearóid Prendergast, a former player and coach of Young Munster, who also guided UL Bohemians, Richmond, the Irish Clubs side, and is currently managing the Munster academy, was an observer of Crescent’s Senior Cup game in the 2014-15 season. Prendergast recalls being captivated by Nash’s exceptional performance. When Prendergast took over as head coach of Young Munster in the 2015-16 season, he was looking forward to working with the talented Nash.
That year, Young Munster had a wealth of promising talent including Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Dan Goggin, Cian Bohan, Calvin Nash and Alan Tynan. However, Nash’s explosive performance outshone them all. The new player elicited murmurs of excitement throughout Limerick.
In the first half of the season with Young Munster, Nash quickly established himself as a noteworthy player. One of his standout moments included a try against Lansdowne on Aviva’s back pitch during a 30-24 defeat on the 3rd of December.
The crowning achievement during his game was a run that witnessed our winger Craig O’Hanlon, intercept a box kick in our half. He handed the ball to an awaiting Calvin in the middle of the pitch, Nash then proceeded to outmanoeuvre around 10 to 11 defenders before scoring under the posts.
Nash showcased an excellent blend of speed, agility, foresight, and brilliant footwork. Nash had also played for a Young Munster team earlier that had clinched the Munster Junior Cup before completing his Leaving Cert exams. He fondly reminisces about the ensuing season in the AIL as being hugely advantageous.
The growth trajectory in any field often resembles the stacking of building blocks, each year’s success improving upon the last. This was the mindset emphasised post-schooling – a profound feeling of inadequacy when pitted against experienced players, despite having the ability to perform. These hurdles, once overcome, serve to boost one’s confidence indeed.
Calvin, at 18/19, was a glaring exception to the stereotypical, introverted youth. He held his head high, taking on a leadership role, a feature which made his coach, Prendergast, not so much as bat an eyelid when Nash was not only recruited into the Irish Under-20s team for the Six Nations match against France in Cork, but was also given the title of captain.
Nash’s journey saw him taking part in three Six Nations games, making his debut in the Munster team while remaining an academy player and scoring the highest number of tries at the 2017 Junior World Championships. He also led Young Munster to the semi-finals. Nash, however, faced adversity in the following seasons, contending with shoulder and ankle injuries, resulting in a drastic shift to adapt to from being a forerunner in school rugby to finding his footing amidst the tough competition.
Nash didn’t shy away from sharing his struggles. He recalled feeling stagnant at Munster, utterly overlooked and restricted to a meagre number of games in one season. Even after giving everything he had, the lack of reciprocation was demoralising for him. During these tough times, the injured Simon Zebo lent emotional support to keep Nash from spiralling into despair.
Being unsure whether he ever wanted to abandon rugby, Nash admits he was in a pretty dismal place. However, words of encouragement from Zebo, a veteran in the sport, made an impact. Zebo urged him to persevere, promising promising coaches on the horizon that would recognise his talent. Nash viewed this advice with some degree of scepticism but appreciated the support.
Hailing from the small Limerick hamlet of Crecora, Nash’s origin isn’t exactly what one would call a cradle of rugby. His initial exposure to rugby was from watching a televised match with his family. Keen to join in, he pleaded with his father to let him play. He was then introduced to the sport at Young Munster, which sparked his love for rugby.
He recalls trying his hand at hurling and football, but never quite took to hurling even though his parents insisted he stick with it. The Young Munster club was introduced to him by his father, Jason, a referee, despite there being little to no history of rugby in his lineage. Nash also learnt about his grandfather’s involvement in the construction of the Young Munster clubhouse, though he himself never played the sport.
Nash owes his strong work ethic to his parents. His father runs a driving instruction business and Nash is simultaneously studying for a degree in strength and conditioning. His brothers Brandon and Jordan have also been involved in Young Munster to some extent, with Brandon formerly playing for the club.
Despite battling injuries and limited opportunities under head coach Johann van Graan, Nash has only managed to play 36 games in the span of five seasons, scoring seven tries. Nevertheless, the shift in strategy at Munster and with the national team suited him. A testament to this was his inclusion by Andy Farrell in the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa in September 2022.
Nash launched a formidable 2022-23 season by securing victories against the Griquas and the Cheetahs. He played a total of 17 matches for Munster, five of which were in the Champions Cup, and has started 12 more so far, thus increasing his strike rate to 11 tries in 29 games for his team in the past two seasons.
Due to the limited number of professional teams in Ireland (only four), talented players often find it challenging to get sufficient game time, a circumstance that has also been beneficial for Hugo Keenan, Jack Crowley, and others.
Nash made his Test debut in the World Cup warm-up match against Italy, and in spite of not making the final cut for Le Mondial, he stepped up to fill the void left by Mack Hansen in Farrell’s team in all three of the Six Nations contests that have been played.
His career trajectory has not been a straight line, and it does not come as a shock to his former mentor at Young Munster, Gearóid, that Nash is making strides in his mid-20s. “I’ve known Nash since he was 18; he’s always been dedicated to learning the game and improving as a player,” he shares. “Nash has a robust thirst for knowledge
and makes valuable contributions in team meetings.”
He further adds, “On a personal note, he is a delightful young man, with a well-balanced personality and a good sense of humour. He also knows when to unwind, which is an essential trait to possess.”
Mike Prendergast was introduced to Nash through his older brother. He kept tabs on the up-and-coming winger during his decade-long stint in France before returning to be the coach of Munster’s backs at the beginning of the previous season. Prendergast praises Nash, saying, “He fits right into the style of play we, the coaches, and the Irish team wish to adopt. He’s skilled and expressive, as evident during his time at Munster and while representing Ireland.”
The younger Prendergast compliments Nash’s remarkable agility and strength, pointing out his excellent skills with a high ball in both attack and defence scenarios. Despite not being the tallest, Nash’s impressive jump compensates for his height. His versatile skills shine through during the game as he is adept at finding favourable positions either for scoring or for offering support to his team.
Nash’s ability to read the game and execute plays without loss of momentum also earns praise from Prendergast along with his receptivity and dedication to coaching. While he may appear calm, he is known to be extremely motivated and a fast learner.
These qualities were exemplified in a game at the Stade Velodrome, where Nash moved from his right-wing position to score a goal in the left corner. His later straightforward right-winger’s goal against Italy and noteworthy contribution to James Lowe’s score against Wales were tactics Farrell surely admired.
Nash had managed to push forward with the ball despite being tackled off a long pass by Gibson-Park. He navigated to the other end of the field and after four phases, he assisted Lowe’s goal with a one-handed fling over Josh Adams’s shoulder, showing an uncanny resemblance to Hansen. He admitted later that he considered scoring himself, but decided against it in Lowe’s favour, which he perceived was the wise choice.
With qualities like a high work rate, diverse skillset, the ability to analyse the game, and an unselfish approach to playing, Nash fits the mould of the type of winger Farrell and Mike Prendergast favour. As a centre and fullback, Nash demonstrates versatility and adaptability, damage to his image.
Both the Prendergasts are of the firm belief that Nash, as a 26-year-old with comparatively less mileage, still has his best days ahead of him owing to his intelligence, professional commitment, coachability and ambition. They suggest that the ability to function comfortably as a lead receiver should be a prized trait, irrespective of a player’s position number as a winger or centre.