Sport

From Marseille to LA - following the Irish links from rugby to the NFL

Dublin-born James McCourt almost linked up with compatriot Daniel Whelan at the New Orleans Saints

James McCourt takes a kick during the Los Angeles Chargers rookie mini-camp at Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, California. Photograph: Mackenzie Hudson/Los Angeles Chargers
Nathan Johns
Fri May 27 2022 - 06:00

From Toulouse to Marseille and across to Los Angeles all in the space of a week for Irish interests. Three athletes, members of the McCourt, Ringrose and Kelly clans, form the unlikeliest of sporting triumvirates, with a familiar link between Leinster and the Ireland Sevens programme extending all the way to the LA Chargers in the NFL.

Dublin-born James McCourt, the Chargers’ latest free agent rookie kicker, is a cousin of Leinster’s Garry Ringrose. Before moving from Dartry to Florida as a child, he was also friends with Jack Kelly, currently of Ireland Sevens renown.

Given the Sevens’ success last weekend in Toulouse and Leinster’s impending Champions Cup final in Marseille, it was the perfect time to see if the link to McCourt was still strong now that he has spent a few weeks as a pro in the Chargers camp.

“Garry reached out, had a nice message for me when I signed,” says McCourt fresh off the Chargers practice field. “We ping each other here and there, congratulate each other on our successes. He gives me some credibility when I’m home. One of my best friends growing up was Jack Kelly so I keep up to date with the Sevens too.”

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Parochial interests guaranteed jubilation among the NFL’s burgeoning Irish fan base when McCourt and Enniskerry’s own Daniel Whelan signed as undrafted free agents with the Chargers and New Orleans Saints last month.

Over 3,000 kilometres separate LA and New Orleans, but the two Irish rookies could have ended up a lot closer. Similarly to his compatriot who actually signed for them, McCourt worked out with the Saints before the draft and had contact with their coaches.

McCourt is up against an experienced competitor for a Chargers roster spot. Photograph: Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers

Both Whelan and McCourt have plenty of work to do to make a final roster, but it’s difficult for Irish fans not to think of what might have been given the Saints, who are playing in London next season, could have done so with two Irish representatives.

“I had a relationship with the Saints, had a really good relationship with them,” explains McCourt. “I was talking too with the Browns, Bears and a couple of other teams. I guess the general manager eventually has to make the final call so it’s whatever they want to bring into camp. Everything can change last minute.

“I had contact and workouts with other teams, but not with the Chargers. Once I heard they were calling I was surprised but I decided on them pretty quickly because my agent informed me that not many teams were going to bring in a free agent [kicker].”

Now that he is in LA, McCourt is up against Dustin Hopkins, the Chargers’ kicker from last season. He was signed midway through their 2021 campaign after his predecessor struggled in games, and the powers that be were so impressed that they handed him a multi-year extension before signing McCourt.

That would suggest the omens aren’t good for the former University of Illinois student - only one kicker is kept on the roster and performances would have to be pretty special to knock out a player contracted for a number of years. McCourt is aware of this, though it wasn’t a worry when making his choice of where to sign.

“That didn’t deter me because it was only one of the options I had,” he says. “I didn’t want to mess around too long with free agency because you never know what’s going to happen. Maybe if I waited a bit longer another option might have come around but I’m happy here.

“Dustin has kicked in the league for nine seasons so I’m trying to pick his brain. I don’t want to come across like I’m nagging him but I’m trying to get as much as I can from him.

“He’s a super guy, He’s been in this profession long enough that he’s seen every side of it. He knows what it’s like to be a rookie, he knows I’m eager and anxious, he’s understanding of that. Hopefully I can be in his position one day and do the same when a rookie comes in.”