Life

Rugby star Tommy Bowe encourages kids to get off the sofa and get active

Ireland and Ulster player Tommy Bowe has been visiting primary schools in the north to promote sport and encourage kids to get active. Jenny Lee asks the new dad about rugby, fashion, his love of Monaghan GAA and how he’s getting on with the guitar

Irish International rugby star Tommy Bowe pictured with Emme Bell, Ryan Jackson, Pearse Duffy, Rosie O'Reilly, Elle Canavan-Rowan and Lukas Wilkinson of Oakwood Integrated Primary School, Dunmurry, at the launch of Subway's two-year sponsorship of Sports for Schools Picture: Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com
Irish International rugby star Tommy Bowe pictured with Emme Bell, Ryan Jackson, Pearse Duffy, Rosie O'Reilly, Elle Canavan-Rowan and Lukas Wilkinson of Oakwood Integrated Primary School, Dunmurry, at the launch of Subway's two-year sponsorship of Irish International rugby star Tommy Bowe pictured with Emme Bell, Ryan Jackson, Pearse Duffy, Rosie O'Reilly, Elle Canavan-Rowan and Lukas Wilkinson of Oakwood Integrated Primary School, Dunmurry, at the launch of Subway's two-year sponsorship of Sports for Schools Picture: Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com

HAVING recovered from his latest injury setback, rugby player Tommy Bowe is back in top form and hoping to help Ulster pick up some silverware this season. Off the pitch, it's been a busy year for the 33-year-old, who's become a dad for the first time, turned his hand to travel presenting and continued to build his clothing and footwear labels.

Most recently, he's been visiting primary schools in Northern Ireland to launch Subway's two-year sponsorship of Sports for Schools, a social enterprise that will bring top athletes into schools, encouraging children to get fit and active.

Although Monaghan-born Bowe has found memories of being a sports-mad child, being involved in a diverse range of sports, from soccer, Gaelic football and rugby to tennis, golf, athletics and horse-riding, he acknowledges that sport isn't for all.

"Growing up sport was a huge part of my life, but not everyone is like that. There are so many distractions out there today, with television, computers and iPads – kids just need to get off the sofa, get outside and get moving. Being active and healthy can be as simple as taking the dog for a walk, riding a bike or playing with friends."

While Bowe has represented Ulster, Ireland and the British Lions, he could equally have had a career at top-level GAA. He played youth Gaelic football for Emyvale and was involved in Monaghan minors, before having to choose between the two sports.

"I played all my rugby during in winter and Gaelic football in the summer. But when I was 17 the Monaghan minor GAA coach wanted me to train in the winter with them and I had to make the decision.

"Rugby was my first love, since my dad first took me to an Ireland match at the old Lansdowne Road. So I chose rugby, not ever thinking I was going to become professional. But it worked out well for me in the end."

He continued to play Gaelic for his local club in the summer months until he was accepted into the Ulster Academy and focused on a career in rugby.

"The game has come on so much over the years and with the current fitness levels of GAA players I'm not sure I would be that keen to pick it up again," laughs Bowe, who still has a huge interest in the sport and watches Monaghan when he can.

Bowe is grateful to his parents for the support they gave him from schoolboy rugby right through to international honours.

"I know there were times I was playing and if things didn't go well it was nice to look up and see your parents in the crowd supporting me or telling me to push myself a little bit harder."

Now a dad himself – welcoming baby Emma into the world in April – he is already seeing some sporting potential in his daughter. "She's definitely very active and keeping us busy."

The Sports for Schools scheme will give schoolchildren direct access to top Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes who run fun fitness circuits and give motivational talks, as well as assisting schools in raising money for PE equipment.

"Our mission is to put physical activity on a par with numeracy and literacy in primary schools, and we look forward to working with Subway on a number of exciting new initiatives over the coming years," says Michel Ledzion, 'chief sportivater' at Sports for Schools.

After 24 months of agonising injuries, including cruciate ligament damage to his knee and a broken fibula during a Six Nations game against Wales last March, Bowe says he's back to full fitness and is optimistic he can help Ulster end their 11-year trophy drought.

While recovering from injury, he took the opportunity to take a foray into television presenting.

"I was involved in the RTE/BBC travel programme Getaways during the summer, which will be airing in January. It was something new as I'm normally used to being asked questions about rugby. Having to learn a script and talk to camera was a new experience for me, but something I really enjoyed and look forward to it coming out," he says.

With a post-graduate diploma in business management, Bowe takes a hands-on approach to his successful fashion ventures, XV Kings Clothing and Lloyd&Price, which he runs with Monaghan brothers Jim and Barry McArdle.

As well as some obligatory modelling, he is involved in the design process and direct selling to stores.

"You are very much kept in a bubble in sport, so seeing how the real world works is something I really enjoy," he says.

Finally, I take Bowe back 12 years to when we 'jammed' together in beginner guitar classes at Queen's University, alongside his friend and former Ireland prop Declan Fitzpatrick.

"One night on tour after I had a few beers I went off and thought I was Eric Clapton, but I was quickly told to pass the guitar on to someone else. It was good craic, but no I'm not much better at playing now," he laughs.

:: For more information on Sports for Schools visit Sportsforschools.org