It’s a long way from Tipperary (where he was born and raised), but Ben Healy has absolutely no doubt that the journey he embarked upon when throwing his lot in with Scotland ahead of the 2023 Six Nations was the right path to take.
Having just finished a rigorous training session under the midday sun at Stade des Arboras – the home ground of Stade Nicois on the south coast of France – the former Ireland under-20s and Munster stand-off was feeling tired but enthused about the opportunities that have opened up since forsaking the country of his birth to throw his lot in with his mother’s homeland at the start of the calendar year.
"It's really exciting, it flies by, it just all passes so quickly,” he beamed. “Sometimes you get a chance to reflect but every week there's a new challenge and something to look forward to and that's what your focus is on.
“But it is nice to look at the big picture every now and again to see where you have come from and where you are going. For instance, this week we have the world champions in the opening game of a Rugby World Cup so each week there's usually an individual focus but when I do look back it will be on a great time in my career.
"I just turned 24 over the summer so I'm really excited to get stuck in with Scotland and with Edinburgh,” added the playmaker, who has signed a two-year deal with the capital outfit in January and will link up with the club when he returns from the World Cup.
"There is good competition in the squad, it certainly wasn't easy but I'm just delighted to be here and I can't wait to get going.
"I suppose I've been challenged a lot by Gregor [Townsend], Brad [Mooar], and Pete [Horne],” he continued. “I'm blessed to have those three guys [who all played stand-off during their own careers] keeping a close eye on me from a ten perspective and showing me where I can grow.
"They were keen for me to challenge the line a lot more. In the 10 position at Munster, particularly last season, I think I got quite used to that and good at it towards the end, but it's a bit different with Scotland and probably a lot more variety.
“So, I'm getting used to that and accepting those challenges, and that's been the biggest thing I’ve developed. I wouldn't say it’s been about being an out-and-out attacking threat but it's about using all of the tools at your disposal.
"Attacking kicks, long kicks, high kicks, playing flat, playing deep, long passes and short passes, just a lot of variety.
"At Munster, there was a really clear system which we worked on from the close season onwards, and by the end of it we had it nailed. Going into each game it was a lot of the same decisions over and over again, whereas there is more variety here.”
Perhaps wary of being perceived as disparaging Munster rugby, which played such a crucial role in his development, Healy added that he is referring to the difference between pro and international rugby as opposed to the difference between Irish and Scottish styles
“A lot of the teams that you face in the URC are all a bit similar whereas in international rugby you are playing against teams from every corner of the globe, so each week you are challenged differently,” he explained.
"And there have been different things that I've been able to bring in [to the Scotland game plan]. A lot of it at the start of the Six Nations was about me getting used to what we do here. Once I got up to speed with that, I was able to add a different perspective.
"It's an open and warm environment, they want players who want to challenge what we are doing as that's the way we grow and get better each week. The boys and the coaches made it quite easy."
