Rugby legend Ronan O’Gara has opened up about relocating to France revealing the language barrier made it “horrendous”.
The La Rochelle head coach admitted the decision to uproot his family was far from easy and he struggled to make himself understood in the early days.
Ireland’s record points scorer told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “You’ve got to push yourself beyond the zone of making a fool of yourself for three months.
Read More: Ronan O'Gara on silencing critics who thought he was out of his depth at La Rochelle
“I’d be in a situation where I didn’t have the words and needed a solution so it would be like ‘help me here boys’.
“But once you ask for help, people help.”
He added: “I’m coaching in French but I don’t have to write emails in French... I just need to understand the vocab associated with getting my point across.
“You can talk 70% in French, 20% in English and make it up for the other 10%.
“The boys can have a good laugh at me trying to express myself in Cork French.”
The dad-of-five said it was difficult for himself and wife Jessica to settle in a foreign country after his retirement in 2013, but they haven’t looked back.
He said: “You’d need a bit of backbone about you, it’s difficult at the start.
“The first three months were horrendous, no doubt about it.”
Munster hero Ronan, 45, said the “exceptional” food and wine helped him stomach the change of scene after relocating in 2013.
And he revealed how he and his older brother got a taste for travel early on as they were both born in California where his dad was a professor in microbiology.
He said: “My mum and dad moved over there as [dad] got an opportunity to work at a university there.
“But then an opportunity came up in UCC so we moved back to Cork when I was nine months.
“We went back over for a few fantastic holidays... fantastic memories, we used to do soccer camps and go to Baskin Robbins and eat ice cream.”
Ronan was delighted that Ireland beat New Zealand 23-12 yesterday morning, in the second match of a three game tour.
It is their first ever win against the All Blacks in New Zealand, having lost by 23 points last week, and Sky Sports pundit O’Gara had been confident of an historic win.
Meanwhile, the Cork man said he no longer gets homesick because he has been away for almost a decade and now considers Ile de Re his home.
He said: “I’ve been gone a long time. People overestimate it – it’s only an hour and 20 minutes away by flight.
“Anywhere in Europe is very accessible now by plane.
“Loads of the lads come over. Paul O’Connell and Dave Wallace are coming over after the tour. It’ll be fantastic.”
But he confessed he felt anxious being away from his mam Joan who had surgery to remove blood on the brain the same week his team won the Heineken Cup.
He said: “I was in such a bubble, with the game and concentration.
“I spoke to a French TV station, I don’t recall what I said but I talked about my mum as it was close to my head at that point.
“I didn’t intend to make it public, but now that it’s out, she’s progressing very well. Her rehabilitation and getting back to who she was is nearly there so thanks be to God.
“I haven’t gone to see her but I need to... thankfully they’re coming for a month in September.”
And he confessed that even though they faced an Irish side his team’s win over Leinster in the Heineken Cup final was a career highlight.
He said: “It was some feeling, the five minutes after the final whistle went in Marseilles was very powerful.
“I’ve never had feelings like that. I last won a European Cup in 2008 as a player, it’s a long time ago.
“There’ve been a lot of disappointments along the way losing finals and stuff like that. That just makes you appreciate the moment even more,
“It was really good, myself and a few others and the staff, we try to create a united playing group, eventually you can see it coming together.
“I’d be very proud with what the guys did, they really rolled up their sleeves.”
Ronan, who is dad to 13-year-old twins Rua and Molly as well as JJ, 12, Zak, 10, and eight-year-old Max, insists that family comes first when it comes to his career.
He revealed: “We both wanted to have a big family. It’s expensive obviously but it’s very suited to this career.
“You become very tight-knit, it’s not my decision about the next job.
“There’ll be a sporting decision to be made, but it’s more important that it’s a family decision.
“That’s why La Rochelle works, we live on this island off the west coast of France. I’m able to do what I’m passionate about which is coach rugby and connect with people, depending on how you define my role.
“It makes me happy the fact that Jess and the kids are happy – you only get one go at life so you may as well live it the best you can. It helps if that person is happy inside.”
He continued: “The kids all speak French fluently, they said to me the other day ‘can we dive into the pool?’
“I said ‘I don’t know, I just have to check the depth’, they were like ‘what’s the depth, oh yeah the profondeur’.
“So many people chase points in the Leaving Cert but what’s important nowadays is mental health and happiness in their own heads.
“I’m passionate about what I do and the opportunity is in La Rochelle for the minute, in our game it changes quickly but it’s a great family adventure aside from coaching.
“Jessica is the boss at home, she’s in charge of all of that.
“The early years when the kids didn’t sleep well are over. So Jessica is into horse racing, she takes horses out here on the beach.”
Ronan has just been announced as a style ambassador for Irish menswear brand Benetti, a role that sits comfortably with him.
He revealed: “I’m well au fait with what goes on in the fashion world.
“I’m not stylish but as you get a little bit older you have to keep an eye on things, and present well, especially when you’re the head coach.”
Reflecting on his induction into the rugby hall of fame he feels he has managed to stay humble in spite of his successes. He said: “I hope so, it’s a very important quality.
“I think my career has taught me it’s about what you’re going to do next.
“There will be a time when we’re old and we can sit back, but at the same time I think what is very important along with humility is being grateful.
“I’d be grateful for the opportunity people give you as well.”
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