JAMES McDonnell’s Irish eyes are smiling after his England call-up – not so much at having to cut short a trip there.
The Leeds star is one of the new faces in boss Shaun Wane’s squad to take on France in Toulouse on Saturday, not that he was expecting to be one.
For international week had seen him book a trip from Monday-Friday to Ballycastle in County Mayo, where father Seamus hails from.
Now he will fly back today to link up with his Test team-mates.
McDonnell can still play for Ireland, who he represented in 2021’s World Cup, as they are a tier two nation – but not this year if he makes his debut.
And lessons from honouring his heritage will stick with him as he prepares to step up.
McDonnell said from Ireland: “I wasn’t anticipating this. My trip was booked Monday-Friday but I’ve had to cut it short and I’ll be flying back today.
“Shaun gave me a surprise phone call. I just saw his name, I answered it and he told me I was selected.
“I wasn’t exactly going to say, ‘Hold on, let me think about this.’
“But playing for Ireland in 2021 was my first ever experience of senior camp and seeing the ins and outs of life in one.
“And the reaction in Ballycastle has been a very proud one, even though it’s not for Ireland. All my dad’s family are really happy for me.
“Seeing me in a green shirt filled them with pride but I’m sure they’ll be just as proud to see me playing in white.
“No-one’s really ever had a strong opinion about who I should play for. I’ve been fortunate that when opportunities arose, there wasn’t much conflict of interest.
“Now we’re at the point where I had to make a decision but once I got the call from Shaun, it wasn’t that hard a one to make.
“The opportunity’s too great to miss.”
Back rower McDonnell, 24, has experience of being coached by Wane after being called into senior sessions at Wigan while in their academy.
But another man had a greater impact on him becoming a star, the late Gary McMahon at amateur side Wigan St Jude’s.
He added: “I always give thanks to Gary, who coached me from being five-years-old until I went to Wigan.
“He kept me in the game, at times when I was having temper tantrums on the sideline, throwing my headguard off.
“He spoke a lot of wisdom to me. I give a lot of credit to him.
“Shaun was head coach at Wigan for a long time and drip fed a lot of the coaching styles and the way he wanted teams to play.
“But with it being international level, he’ll be more intense and there’ll be higher standards to uphold.”
