Ian Madigan, donning casual attire and a snug beanie, makes his way from The Nova at UCD, a bustling centre for emerging enterprises based in an age-old edifice just a stone’s throw across the Stillorgan dual carriageway on the university’s expansive campus. He’s navigating his fresh life in the city with Dataships, a pioneer compliance start-up.
He dispels the thought of heading back up North this evening. His commitments with Blackrock rugby club beckon later, where his expertise as a former Ireland outhalf is put to good use training the backs in attack and defence techniques. His position aligns harmoniously with coaches James Blaney and Stan McDowell, acting as a ‘technical advisor’.
He remarks on McDowell’s past glory as a European Cup champion with Ulster. In addition to this, he dabbles in media work, offering rugby analysis for Virgin Media. Without a doubt, Madigan is a man in demand.
His coaching approach is immersive – whistle poised and ready. His career trajectory has guided him back to his roots after a winding journey through professional rugby, taking him from France and England, before settling in Belfast. His current residence is neither Blackrock nor Monkstown, the South Dublin locations he once called home; Madigan now resides just a few miles down the motorway from Kingspan Stadium, amidst the tranquillity of Hillsborough in Co Down.
Madigan decided to hang his boots up in September of last year. Since his move to the North from Bristol four years ago, it’s been his base. He swiftly adapted to the atmosphere in Belfast, finding it easy to build friendships.
Reflecting on the stability, he said, “For the first time in a decade, Anna, my partner, and I have been able to put down roots not dictated by a professional rugby contract.” He disclosed that the couple own two Labradors that enjoy the ample room to roam and that they have developed close relationships in the community. His thoughts frequently drift back to Dublin, however, admitting, “We’ll likely move back in due course.”
Musing on the last 12 months since he began questioning his future in rugby, he admitted waking up unsure he could make it through the day’s training. The passion that once drove him was gradually fading. His last couple of seasons were marked by few appearances with Ulster, often finding himself sidelined. Such moments led him to reflect on his next steps in life.
Madigan confessed his transition into office life had been challenging. Moving from a vibrant changing room with 30 or 40 friends, to navigating the water cooler conversations, paints a stark difference. Some parts of his former life, like training under the sun during winter, he misses. His routine has changed from light afternoon practices to early morning or late night dog walks.
His professional career was not the standard one. Over the years, one can overlook that he played seven years with Leinster (totaling 147 caps) and an additional seven with Bordeaux, Bristol Bears and Ulster (making 116 appearances) from his debut in 2007-08 to 2016. He was decorated with a myriad of accolades, from participating in the 2015 World Cup, reaching Heineken Cup finals in 2011 and 2012, to earning 31 Irish caps. Furthermore, he topped the English Championship’s points table in 2018 representing Bristol.
Despite tough decisions, Madigan harbours no regrets. Even parting with his dream club, Leinster, which he had admired since his school days, doesn’t make him rueful. His departure from Ireland was hard, yet it allowed him to pursue his dreams. He craved for a fresh start and a new challenge, which provided more stimulation than an imposed exile.
Aware of Johnny Sexton’s unique stance, who defied the tradition of being selected for the Irish National Team whilst playing overseas, Madigan too believed that he would be considered for the team, provided he excelled in his game.
He shares about his time in Leinster, where he gladly filled roles as an outhalf, centre or fullback due to injuries during international leaves in fall or the Six Nations. In his early twenties, Madigan delightedly accepted these opportunities.
Having the chance to share a changing room with the likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Leo Cullen, along with younger promising talents such as Luke Fitz, Rob Kearney, Eoin O’Malley, and Fergus McFadden, was a unique experience. My peers included John Cooney, Dominic Ryan, and Jack McGrath, which made for a particularly special group of players.
After Johnny Sexton left Leinster for two seasons to play at Racing, my role on the team expanded, affording me more opportunities to showcase my abilities at either outhalf or centre. I was considered a key player, a guaranteed starter, until circumstances changed.
Sexton’s return coincided with the emergence of other talented young players like Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, and stalwart Rob Kearney’s presence at fullback. I found myself questioning whether I would be starting if everyone was fit, and the bitter truth was, I wouldn’t have been.
That didn’t deter me however; I pushed myself, competed with Johnny for the 10th spot, and aimed to be an influential figure, heavily involved in the game plan, week in and week out. But traces of frustration led me to believe that I was regressing instead of progressing, eventually urging me to take up a new challenge. Hence, my move was not a spur of the moment decision, but an action born out of continuous frustration over time.
During my tenure at Leinster, I was under the guidance of Michael Cheika, Matt O’Connor, Joe Schmidt and Leo Cullen. After my exit, I dipped out of sight from the Irish team selection, but kept performing exceptionally. I saved my team with winning kicks in the dying minutes against Saracens, Gloucester and Northampton in Bristol’s first year back in the Premiership. I also led Ulster to the 2020 United Rugby Championship final against Leinster, thanks to two critical kicks.
Ultimately, the draw to Ireland and its capital, Belfast, was driven by a persistent ambition. The longing to vie for a chance at the coveted green shirt was alive even upon reaching Ravenhill Road.
“I held a resolute optimism; the fear of regret forced me to try my luck, whether naive or not. Regretfully, my ambitions never truly materialised,” he reflects.
“In my debut season with Ulster, I performed promisingly, yet found myself denied opportunities in the following season. Consequently, my dream of representing Ireland dwindled rapidly.”
John Cooney, Jordi Murphy, Jack McGrath, Cillian Willis and Greg Jones precede him as Leinster imports in Belfast. Expecting the harsh Northern cold, Madigan was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere – an experience unlike any he encountered before. In rugby, fanatics and athletes alike found a common passion.
“I was known for my vocal contributions during meetings and never did I feel out of place as a deeply religious Catholic. It never occurred to me. The younger generations, varying from 18 to 25 years, were free from the burdens of our troubled past. Despite being aware of our history, we were respectful of it.
“Our team participated in the Black Cab tour, led by Dan McFarland, who emphasised the importance of immersing ourselves in the club’s rich history.
“We were rewarded with an overnight stay at the Crumlin Road jail, in recognition of our strenuous preseason efforts. Traditionally, teams would venture to Portugal or Spain, but our reward was quite unorthodox – an actual jail cell. We used inflatable mattresses to sleep on and had a historian to narrate the jail’s historical significance.
“Sharing the cell with me were Nathan Doak, Ethan McIlroy, and a few others. We had a small party with a boom box and beers to mark the end of preseason. It was truly an unforgettable experience.”
Like in any profession, there were highs and lows. In 2006, he had to forgo a schools cup with Blackrock due to a ruptured appendix. The following year, his missed goal kick led to an unexpected defeat for his team at the hands of Kilkenny in the quarter-final. As he began to make a name for himself in Leinster and aim for success with Ireland, two influential figures, Ronan O’Gara and Sexton, had already claimed the outhalf position.
Yet, he managed to net over 800 points in less than 150 matches for Leinster, attaining two European titles, a pair of Pro12 championships, a Challenge Cup, besides a couple individual trophies. In the 2013 and 2015 seasons, Madigan bagged the Pro12 Golden Boot.
Internationally, he had his first appearance in the 2013 Six Nations and took part in all five games at the 2015 World Cup, most notably assisting Ireland to triumph over France in the final pool game where he replaced Sexton just 26 minutes in, before heading to a fateful quarter-final match against Argentina.
“The outhalf position was occupied by Johnny Sexton and Ronan O’Gara at that time,” he shares. “Paddy Jackson, Ian Keatley and I were vying for a spot in the team. Amidst this, Paddy shot ahead, he was younger than me but I was determined to prove that I was worthy to compete with him and the rest. It was indeed a significant moment when Joe took over because he was familiar with me as a player.
“Joe had trained me in Leinster, he had cognizance of my strengths and weaknesses. He was detailed in his guidance, but owing to his excellent coaching skills, he could craft a game plan that played to my strengths, implemented a kicking game that favoured me, a passing game that was well-suited to me and how he arranged the forwards around me – a lucid calling system.
“Joe was uniquely adaptive as a coach to accomplish this. That’s why I enjoyed his mentorship. I used to humorously remark that it felt like having Joe right there with you as you played as he knew precisely what he wanted and what he didn’t. After finishing a game, I would conduct my own review and later discuss it with Joe, and they would often resonate.”
Madigan, once a stalwart of Ulster Rugby, ultimately fell victim to the harsh realities of sports injuries. In his final season, a knee injury against Ospreys sidelined him, causing direct damage to the area beneath his knee. Despite being able to return to the pitch, he couldn’t replicate his previous form. As he reached 33, gym sessions began to take their toll, prompting questions about his ability to keep up.
Before Madigan parted ways with Leinster, he did chat openly with the other squad members, specifically touching on Johnny [Sexton] and his French experiences. He reveals that Sexton gave him some sage advice after he had signed; urging him not to overhaul everything, but to concentrate on the essentials.
He fondly remembers his Leinster days, recalling the untainted pleasure of playing alongside schoolmates and representing his local team. On relocating to a club in either France or the UK, the professional side of the sport became more prevalent, including the necessity to make business-focused decisions.
During his time in Ulster, he resided near recent coach Dan McFarland in Belfast, a stone’s throw away from Queen’s University playing fields. These days, he’s comfortably settled in Hillsborough, outside Lisburn with his two dogs, and conveniently located 90 minutes away from Dublin, where much of his work takes place.
The former star fly-half remarks that he’s certainly looking ahead to returning to Dublin, as many elements of his post-rugby ventures reside there, from his television work to Nova and coaching. However, he treasures the time he has spent in Northern Ireland after his rugby chapter closed. He is quick to suggest the move back to Dublin will indeed eventuate, just not in the immediate future.