News

Bowe hoping to spiral to new heights

August 12 2008

Ireland international Tommy Bowe is confident that joining the star-studded Ospreys can take his career to the next level.

After a successful season with both his club and country, the Ospreys moved quickly to secure his services from Ulster on a two-year deal back in January.

And following a six-month wait the fifteen-times capped Irishman has finally arrived in Wales and is confident the intense competition for places at the region will bring out the best in him.

"There's a lot of big names in the changing room, especially the ones in the Welsh team," he said, speaking to the Western Mail.

"And having played against them countless times, either with Ireland or Ulster, it's nice to be on the same side as them now.

"I'm 24 now, I'm in a good spell of form and it's time for me to test myself against the best. Certainly, by competing for my place with some of the players here, that is exactly what I will be doing."

However, Bowe acknowledged it was tough to leave Ulster after five years with them but he has to focus on the future not the past.

"It was difficult with Ulster last year. Things didn't go as we would have wanted and it was tough towards the end of the season," he said.

"I could easily have stayed at Ulster, enjoyed my rugby there and, without sounding big-headed, been confident of keeping my shirt for the majority of the games. But I wanted to take my career to the next level here.

"There's a lot of competition for places at the Ospreys and it's going to be tough getting into the first XV."

Being the only major summer signing thus far, Bowe is expected to feel the pressure but insists the most heat will come from his own expectations.

With the British & Irish Lions tour at the end of it and Europe on the agenda, the wing knows his debut season could be a big one, but his first target is to focus only on forcing his way into the starting XV.

"Obviously this club has come away with silverware for the last three seasons. Now it's a case of moving that on to the next stage and Europe is obviously a priority," he continued.

"But right now my own personal aim for the season is just to play as regularly as possible. Then, as a team, we obviously want to perform well in all competitions and continue last year's success."