The Statistics:

DOB: 27/10/72
Birthplace: Dover, Kent, England.
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 16st
Position: Inside Centre
Club: Young Munster
Province: Munster
Caps: 25
Lions caps: 3
International record: 6 tries
Debut: vs Western Samoa, 1996

Hendo, although born of a Scottish father, owes his national allegiance to a Wexford-born mother who raised him in England from the age of 8 and the influence of the London Irish club which he joined as a teenager. ”I grew up as an Irish boy and never thought of myself as anything else. I don’t think it should matter that I speak with an English accent. Ireland is the country I chose to represent and it is the country I feel I belong to. An Irishman, even though second generation, wants to play for Ireland.” He scored a try on his non-cap Ireland debut against the Barbarians in 1996 but an old-fashioned "amateur" attitude towards fitness and socialising held him back, missing the 1999 World Cup squad, until he finally established a regular Ireland starting spot in the Six Nations 2000. Starred that year in Ireland's first win in Paris for 28 years, establishing a sparkling centre partnership with Brian O'Driscoll, and the following year scored a hat-trick against the Italians in Rome. But his finest moments were to come in the red shirt of the British and Irish Lions in the 2001 tour of Australia, particularly in the monumental 1st Test victory in Brisbane. Since then, knee and bicep injuries have cruelly restricted his opportunities for both Munster and Ireland, but the Castleconnell villager is in no doubt that his relocation to Ireland from England will enable him to produce the finest rugby of his career, putting pressure on Kevin Maggs for the No12 jersey in World Cup 2003. "If I'd come here when I was 21 I'd probably have 100 caps by now. It would have done me no end of good. It's taken me a long, long time to grow up and take on the responsibilities of being a professional rugby player."

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