By Barney Burnham
June 1 2005

Today London Wasps unveiled their new signings for the coming season, among them a new scrum half from Munster called Eoin Reddan. Barney caught up with him at the presser.  

BB: Eoin - how excited are you about coming to the Premiership champions and snapping at the heels of a Lions scrum-half?

ER: I'm thrilled and delighted. It's brilliant to join a club with so many great players and great coaches. It's a massive opportunity and I really can't wait to get started.

BB:I suppose Wasps hold some bitter memories for you, as you were on the Munster bench for that classic Heineken Cup semifinal last year.

ER: I wouldn't say they were bitter. It was a great occasion, a great day, with two great teams. Unfortunately, we came out on the losing end - but what an occasion. I remember driving down to Lansdowne Road from the team hotel, and seeing the huge level of support for Munster - it was unbelievable. You have to give credit to Wasps, as it made their task a lot harder, and they still came through. But it was a massive occasion, and one I'll always remember. The one sad thing was that defeat really affected Munster badly. There was a lot of recrimination, which I think was a bit unnecessary. It would have been far better if we'd just accepted that we'd lost a great match to a great team.

BB:The fact that, as we speak, the Celtic League is defunct must make a move to the Zurich Premiership even more attractive than it was before.

ER: True! At the time I signed, I didn't know what was going to happen to the Celtic League - nobody did! It does make it a better move for me, considering there might be fewer games in the Celtic League, meaning fewer opportunities to play. But, at the same time, I suspect that the Celtic League will probably be resurrected. I'm sure the Welsh clubs will be back on board - maybe even next season. But if they miss one season, they'll definitely be back the following year.

BB: How do you think playing in England might affect your international aspirations? The feeling was that Jonny O'Connor suffered for a season, because he was playing in England, under Ireland's former coach!

ER: Quite possibly, but ultimately I think Jonny's career will probably be better, because he's been in England. He might have had to sit it out for a while, but he's really proved himself this year, and he's playing great stuff. It's probably made him a better player, which I think, at the end of the day, is what everyone wants - and it'll make him a better international.

BB: You've signed for two years. What, ideally, would you wish to have achieved by the time those two years are up?

ER: I'd love to nail down a number 9 spot. That's obviously not going to be easy, given the standard of the competition there is at the club - but you have to take on these things in life. You train every day for these opportunities. You keep knocking on doors and hopefully one will open. If you're playing well for Wasps, a lot could happen internationally. That's why I'm coming to a club of this stature.

BB: As well as Matt Dawson, there's a talented young number 9 called Warren Fury at Wasps. He'll probably see your arrival as further incentive to play well!

ER: Yes, and he's a good player. At any big club, there's always going to be a number of good players in every position. You really have to be on top of your game, and training at your top level, to push anybody. It's going to be a tough task.

BB: It would be nice if we could end up facing Munster in the Heineken Cup.

ER: Yes, I'd love that - but the seedings mean we probably can't be in the same pool. I'd love to go back to Thomond Park in a black shirt and see the other side of things. It'd also be great to play against old friends. It would be a great occasion!

Related link: Munster profile