Carbery targets Ireland return after rejoining Leinster

Joey Carbery has made an Ireland return his explicit target after rejoining Leinster, saying international ambitions helped bring him back from France. In an interview reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, the 31-year-old fly-half said he wanted his performances to earn another opportunity with the national team.

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Carbery has made two starts since returning from Bordeaux-Begles. He was not selected in Andy Farrell's latest senior squad but has been included in Mark Sexton's Ireland XV group for next week's meeting with Fiji A in Cork. His most recent Test appearance was against Fiji in November 2022, the last of his 37 Ireland caps.

His club return has already included a 20-point contribution in Leinster's 50-5 United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht in Galway. BBC Sport's match report recorded a try, six conversions and a penalty from Carbery as Leinster scored seven tries. The visitors were without their Ireland internationals for the match at the Dexcom Stadium.

Gus McCarthy and Jordan Larmour supplied Leinster's opening tries before Dave Heffernan scored Connacht's only try in the 28th minute. Larmour then set up Lawlor for his first Leinster try. Carbery converted all three first-half scores, helping establish a 21-5 advantage by the interval, with the home side unable to add to their tally after Heffernan's contribution.

After the break, Carbery kicked a penalty before Max Deegan added another try. The fly-half crossed himself shortly after the hour, followed by Ciaran Mangan and Fintan Gunne. Carbery's final conversion completed his personal total. The result lifted Leinster to third in the URC standings at the time of the report, while Connacht remained eighth.

Carbery described his Ireland XV selection as a way back into the national setup. He also welcomed the prospect of working again with Noel McNamara, confirmed last week as Leo Cullen's successor at Leinster. Carbery previously worked with McNamara at Bordeaux and in underage rugby. A senior international recall remains an ambition, rather than a confirmed selection.