‘It’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?’ – Jamison Gibson-Park looking forward to Leinster’s Kiwi additions

Jamison Gibson-Park laughs as the suggestion is put to him that he is the only Leinster back whose position will be safe upon Jordie Barrett’s arrival in December.

Given that Barrett can play anywhere from 10-15, Gibson-Park can sleep a little easier knowing scrum-half is the only position the All Black hasn’t played in his professional career. It helps too that, along with Antoine Dupont, Gibson-Park is the best 9 in the game now, and he is relishing the prospect of two more fellow Kiwis joining Leinster next season.

As one New Zealander, Andrew Goodman, departs for the Ireland set-up this summer, his attack coach role will be filled by Tyler Bleyendaal, who, along with Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Barrett, will ensure there is an even bigger flavour of home in Leinster.

“It’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?” Gibson-Park said. “I would have known Jordie a little bit. I never played with him, but I played against him and met him a good few times, and played with a couple of his brothers over the years. It’s exciting.”

Despite spending a season with the Hurricanes before he joined Leinster in 2016, Gibson-Park never crossed paths with Barrett (27), who has played over 100 Super Rugby games for the Wellington club. “I was gone when he came through, so would have only got to know his game from playing against him and watching him,” Gibson-Park (32) continued.

“He’s a serious talent. It’s not like he’s at the end of his career, he’s smack bang in the middle of it and flying it, so, yeah, he should be a huge addition. I think his missus is coming over as well, so hopefully, we’ll get them sorted out. It’s only a quick stint, but I’m sure he can get plenty of golf in that time.

“He’s embedded in the way that they [All Blacks] do things, so he may see things differently to us, so it will be good to get that different perspective and hopefully grow us as a team.”

Gibson-Park played against former Munster and Crusaders out-half Bleyendaal, who, like Barrett, will join Leinster from the Hurricanes.

“I’ve only heard good things, and even chatting to a few lads who played with Tyler, he always had a coach’s brain, even throughout his playing career, so yeah, I’m looking forward to working with him,” Gibson-Park said. “He seems to be a serious coach, ’Canes are flying at the moment, so hopefully, he can bring a bit of that with him.”

Gibson-Park did not travel to South Africa with a young Leinster squad as he gears up for the Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton on May 4.

“I’ve been [to Croke Park] twice, the Dubs were playing Kerry, it was an All-Ireland final [2019],” he added.

“It was incredible. Looking forward to it, it will be cool. Obviously, a bit bigger than the Aviva, but the fans have been amazing really over the last couple of fixtures in the way they have shown up. I saw they released the ticket prices, they seem to be pretty reasonable, so hopefully, the fans will get out and support us.”

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