by IIt will be another six months before Andy Farrell finally has to select his British & Irish Lions captain for the expedition to Australia in 2025. Enough time for the landscape to change and, theoretically, one or two surprise candidates to emerge from the bushes. Until you sit down with the devastatingly impressive Caelan Doris and realize there’s no reason for Farrell to look elsewhere.
A bold prediction? Barely. It’s not rocket science that a world-class player with the universal respect of his peers, a university degree in psychology and a warm smile could be just the ticket. Ireland have produced some famous Lions captains in the professional era, from Brian O’Driscoll to Paul O’Connell and Peter O’Mahony, and another leading candidate is quietly lurking in the wings.
Because whether or not, as most expect, he is confirmed as Ireland’s captain for the upcoming November Tests on Wednesday, the 26-year-old Leinster back-rower is a coach’s dream. Even on a damp Tuesday morning he is already looking ahead to the next big challenge, with batteries charged and eyes bright after last Saturday’s victory over Munster in front of 80,468 spectators at Croke Park. “You just get into the zone. I don’t think I’m crazy aggressive; I would say that I am relatively consistent on and off the pitch. But of course you are competitive and want to play at the limit and win.”
However, aside from the footwork, physicality and footballing talent that make him such an effective No. 8, Doris is no ordinary athlete. As the son of two psychoanalysts – his maternal grandfather, Michael Sweetman, was a prominent Irish industrialist and politician who tragically died in the Staines plane crash in 1972 – he might have pursued a very different career. Or maybe not, given what he found when he returned to his native County Mayo this summer. “I was back home in June, looking through some old stuff and found a book I made when I made my Holy Communion when I was 10 or 11 years old.
“There was a side for future ambitions and where I wanted to live. It said, “I want to be a rugby or football player.” That was kind of cool because I don’t remember ever wanting to do that.” Also the follow-up entry, “I want to have a house in Mayo, London and New York.” ‘ caused some amusement. “I’ll be playing rugby for a while if that’s what I want to do.”
However, to understand the real Doris, look at a map of Ireland and run your finger west. Leaving Galway to the south and Sligo to the east, you head north up the River Moy, past the town of Ballina, to the Atlantic coast. Eventually you reach the small hamlet of Lacken, where he grew up. The post office and store were sad victims of Covid, but the area remains close to his heart. “It’s beautiful. On a good day it’s hard to beat. My parents still live there and I come back when I can.
“It’s very rural…I think there are about 500 people in the community. It’s about 10 minutes to the next village and 20 minutes to the next town. At my primary school, which was within walking distance of where I was born, there were a total of 30 to 35 students in eight years. I only had one other classmate in my year.”
Fortunately, he and his lone companion David became good friends, but 12-year-old Doris later took the chance and went to Blackrock College in Dublin, one of Ireland’s most prestigious rugby schools and also O’Driscoll’s alma mater. Maybe his genes would have catapulted him into the national team anyway, but he disagrees. “I’m more of a nature person. Of course there is a genetic element, but from a young age I had a rugby ball or a Gaelic football in my hand. We had a fairly large garden and lived next to a school with a parking space, so there was always something going on. Then you go to Blackrock, a huge rugby school. I loved it from the start.”
Since then it has been on a steep upward trend. The 1.80 meter tall striker was captain of the Irish U20 team in 2018, made his Leinster debut in the same year and won the first of his 44 caps in 2020 with the Irish senior national team under the leadership of Johnny Sexton, whom he had known as a child admired from a distance. “It was strange at first. There was a bit of imposter syndrome: ‘What the hell am I doing in the same dressing room as this guy?'”
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Now Sexton has suddenly retired and Doris, who was in Cardiff this week to promote this year’s Investec Champions Cup, is fast becoming a similar talisman for Leinster and Ireland. He led the national team for the first time against Italy in February and was named Leinster captain last month. The mental side of the game – “It’s definitely an area that interests me…” – fascinates him, as does the potential of becoming a captain, which furthers his development as a player and person. “I want to get the best out of myself both playfully and personally. If there is additional responsibility, you can increase your capacity.” This includes his inner self. “Everything from being more open with friends and family to speaking from my heart or sharing something with someone.” I do weekly therapy sessions and mindfulness exercises to refill the tank.” Swimming in the sea and saunas are other regular leisure activities. “I also recently started doing a bit of hot yoga, which I enjoyed. It all just gives you a bit of balance and peace.”
He’ll need plenty of both if he gets a high-profile role with the Lions. As a child, Doris remembers accompanying his father Chris to breakfast at a local village pub to cheer on the Lions in 2005 and 2009, and Australia 2025 had long been on his bucket list. “It’s very special, isn’t it? It’s definitely a goal. Until then there is still a lot of rugby to play for Leinster and Ireland. But yeah, I would absolutely love to be on the tour.”
Before that, of course, there is the reunion with the All Blacks next month, the first meeting between the two teams since the fateful World Cup quarter-finals last year. That anniversary fell this week, but Doris is more focused on tackling the next phase of his career. “Of course there are hard days, but there are so many good days too,” he said. “I’m really enjoying the whole journey: the excitement with the boys, the friendships, the traveling, the opportunities. I’m trying to soak it all up.” The compatriot from Lacken would be a great Lion King.
