Nacewa relishing Leinster return

Isa Nacewa is back in the Leinster squad and picking up silverware is his primary goal for the season ahead.

Nacewa relishing Leinster return

By Kevin Murphy

Isa Nacewa is back in the Leinster squad and picking up silverware is his primary goal for the season ahead.

The gifted utility star is back on Irish soil and declared that he is fitter than ever following a two-year break from the sport.

Nacewa was a real favourite with the Ballsbridge faithful and was a key member of a star-studded Leinster side that won three Heineken Cups in five years.

“I did say, ‘Never say never’ and I also said I would only ever return to one club,” said the Kiwi at an event to promote the Webb Ellis trophy at Anglesea Road yesterday.”

"I've learned more in the last 18 months about looking after my body than I ever did. I will see the benefits in the coming year.

"I'm here to win trophies, that's the bottom line. It was an easy decision for me to come back and I jumped at the opportunity to do so.”

"There are still quality players at this club, there are a whole host of genuine winners here. If you put out any Leinster XV, the majority of them will have won a Heineken Cup.”

Nacewa 32, left Leinster in 2013 and returned to the Auckland Blues where he took up a role in the backroom coaching team.

"I played five full-on years with not much break and I was always about 80pc. You're never 100pc, that's a myth.”

"The fact that I had heaps of time off, I do look at things differently now in terms of recovery.

"So now I feel really fresher than ever before. I'm probably in better shape than when I started my final year with Leinster."

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