Tipuric: ‘Ospreys is a big part of me’

Home is certainly where the heart is for Ospreys and Wales flanker Justin Tipuric, who refused to be enticed away to England or France earlier this year when his contract was up for renewal.

For a player who had to vie with Sam Warburton for the Wales No 7 jersey for most of his career he hasn’t done badly. ‘Captain Sam’ may have earned 74 caps and gone on two British & Irish Lions tours, but Tipuric surpassed him this season as he took his Welsh cap tally to 76.

Add in 11 appearances for the Lions on two tours, including one Test, and he has more than kept up with his great friend and rival from the Welsh capital. Interestingly enough, when Warburton picked his best Wales XV he had no hesitation in giving Tipuric the No 7 shirt.

But his performances for Wales have always been based on his form at the Ospreys. He has spent a decade playing for his home region and was more than happy to sign up for more when the time came last earlier in the year.

“I’m an Ospreys fan as well as a player,” he explained, “I’m from the region and I used to watch the Ospreys play when I was a kid – it is a big part of me.

“I always want to give 100 per cent when I wear the Ospreys jersey. We are a tight bunch of players and the staff work incredibly hard.”

The 2019/20 season has been the most difficult on record for the Ospreys, both on and off the pitch, and the current coronavirus crisis has merely heighten the problems. Tipuric, however, was one of the first to step forward and accept the proposal for a 25% pay cut and, as ever, has led by example off the field as he always does on it.

All he wants is to get back out there, put some smiles on the faces of the fans and to get back to better times. After all, he knows a thing about winning having played in the Ospreys side that won the old PRO12 final in Dublin in 2012 when they pipped Leinster 31-30.

“It hasn’t been a great season for us, but there is an exciting future ahead of us. I want to be a part of that,” added Tipuric.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at the Ospreys and I want to keep on enjoying it. Toby Booth is due to take over as our coach and everyone has spoken very highly of him from his time at London Irish, Bath and Harlequins.”

The past decade has seen Tipuric, complete with his trade mark blue scrum cap, play 176 times for the Ospreys. Now on his agenda will be joining Dan Biggar (221), Andrew Bishop (209), Paul James, Duncan Jones (223), Alun Wyn Jones (240) and James King (201) in the region’s exclusive ‘200 cap’ club.

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Source: Welsh Rugby