McHenry grabs his lifeline from Dax

ALEX McHenry scored Jersey’s third try against Exeter in September, yet eight days later was selling nearly all his possessions and left “fearing the worst” – but a ‘mystery’ figure helped him turn his fortunes around. 

- LUKE JARMYN

The 26-year-old former Wasps, Munster and Ireland sevens centre was instantly without a job or a home and moved back to his parents in Cork after Jersey’s shock collapse four months after they had won the Championship.

Despite worries it could be the end of his professional career, McHenry has had a remarkable turnaround at Dax in south-west France.

He told The Rugby Paper: “It’s been a bit of a baptism of fire really coming over to France. It’s a much different league to what it’s like in the Championship. But I’m loving it, and I’m just grateful that I’m fortunate enough to have a job I love doing again and can express myself in.

“In terms of the difference, I’m playing 12 here more where I was more of a 13 at Jersey and Wasps in the past few years.