Rugby World Cup: For nearly a decade, Devin Toner was a towering figure in Irish rugby. A dominant force at the line-out, his height and consistency made him a regular fixture in the Ireland setup after making his international debut in 2010. Over the course of his career, Toner earned 70 caps and played his part in three Six Nations title wins.
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He established himself as one of the most reliable second rows of his era. So, when the build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup began, Toner fully believed he was heading to Japan. In fact, it was a seemingly harmless question from then-head coach Joe Schmidt that convinced him his place in the squad was secure.
That is what made the eventual phone call from Schmidt telling him he would not be going all the more shocking. Speaking on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast, Toner recalled the moment vividly. He was at home, watching television, when his phone rang.
I thought I was going, but I got a phone call when I was watching TV, he said. We had a training camp in Portugal a couple of weeks or months beforehand, and Joe came up to me and asked, ‘What exact height are you?
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Schmidt explained the question by saying it related to the height of bedroom ceilings and beds in Japan. To Toner, it sounded like practical planning for a confirmed squad member. “In my head, I was like, ‘OK, I’m going then, he said.
Toner’s height had been a topic of conversation in Japan before. During a tour in 2017, hotel staff had gone out of their way to extend his bed so he could sleep comfortably. While he stood out physically, he remembered the experience fondly. They were in awe when I was walking by, but they were incredibly respectful about it, he said.
That made his omission from the World Cup squad even harder to process. Toner described it as one of the lowest moments of his career. The decision was made even more surprising by the fact that Jean Kleyn, a South African-born lock who had only qualified for Ireland through residency weeks earlier, was selected instead.
Looking back, Toner admits he may have played a role in the decision. To my detriment, I was probably a little too comfortable, he said. I don’t think I played very well in the warm-up games. I don’t think I performed anywhere near my ability. The call caused a major reaction when the 31-man squad was announced.
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The residency rule came under scrutiny, and Kleyn himself faced criticism, something Toner says was unfair. “There was big fallout after it, and I do feel for Jean, he said. He got a lot of stick, but he was just trying to do his job as a professional rugby player.
From Toner’s perspective, it was never a direct battle between the two players. He was one of the second row who got picked. It wasn’t a case of me or me, he said. Kleyn’s time with Ireland ultimately proved limited.
After going three years without another cap, he returned to represent South Africa at the 2023 World Cup. He became part of the squad that lifted the trophy. Toner holds no resentment over how events unfolded.
He was doing what was best for his career, he said. He wanted to play international rugby. It’s nothing to do with him; it’s the system. Toner’s final Ireland appearance came in 2020, and he retired in 2022 after 16 years with Leinster.
While he admits he doesn’t watch as much rugby as he once did, he still follows Ireland closely and believes the current team is in a strong position. However, he feels one issue still needs addressing. Someone needs to nail down the line-out call, he said.
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