Rugby Union: Interview: Austin Healey

Once upon a time there was a wickedly talented international player called Austin Healey. He went on two Lions tours, won 51 England caps and was Leicester's try-scoring hero in successive Heineken Cup finals. He even had a column in the Guardian. And now? Well, neither Healey nor the Tigers are in noticeably fairytale mood.

At least Leicester can concentrate on one simple narrative strand, namely the probability of the former champions failing to qualify for Europe's elite club tournament for the first time if Wasps are not beaten in High Wycombe today. For Healey, already nursing his share of broken dreams this season, there are murkier issues to worry about, not least whether he and a reshuffled Leicester management team have a viable future together.

Healey will shortly be out of contract and, by all accounts, the new deal being offered involves significantly less money. The club owners across Europe who would break the bank for his services have yet to materialise and Leicester's new backs coach is the same Pat Howard who attracted pointed criticism in Healey's autobiography. If the Tigers have their backs to the wall, so does their 30-year-old utility back.

It is time, then, to look at things from Healey's standpoint or set out in that direction. Few sportsmen are, simultaneously, so acerbic, sensitive, amusing, spiky, optimistic, self-absorbed, opinionated and mischievous and Healey was his usual effortlessly contrary self this week. Interviewing him can be compared to feeding a slot machine and seeing how many lemons pop up.

At the moment, though, his preference for public candour does not extend to financial matters. "Unless you hear it from the horse's mouth it's usually bullshit and the horse isn't talking to you," he growls defensively. "We're still in the process of trying to finalise the contract and once it's done everyone will know."

Fine, but what about taking orders from a coach whose judgment he has attacked in print, let alone another former colleague, Richard Cockerill, with whom he frequently traded actual blows? "Listen, it's not about me and Pat, it's about the club doing well. We're both grown up enough to deal with whatever's gone on and I'd like to think we can work together.

"I've spoken to Pat and some of his ideas are really refreshing. A lot of the stuff in the past has been sensationalised by me. We had a little bit of an argument, I put it in a book and all of a sudden it is portrayed as if we're throwing darts at each other's picture. People fight in rugby clubs every single day."

If Healey is honest, though, he will know he can criticise others only if he rediscovers his own onfield snap and swagger. During his recovery from knee surgery 13 months ago, which effectively scuppered his chances of World Cup selection, he even considered jacking the game in.

"I could have retired and claimed insurance from my injury. I decided not to because I thought I had a lot more to offer." If four tries in 21 club games this season is hardly a striking return, he still hopes Sir Clive Woodward will look at him afresh.

"If I can put in enough hard work this summer, I can't see why I can't get back to where I was," he argues. "Mentally I'm stronger than I was two years ago because of all the shit I've had to deal with over the past 12 months - not least people saying 'you didn't go to the World Cup' at every dinner I go to.

"I've been restraining myself from kicking the shit out of a number of people, including members of the press, on a regular basis. I couldn't really give a damn about it now - it's done and dusted. Let's just move on."

But where to? No sooner has Healey announced he wants a specialist position - "For once in the off-season I'll have to nail my colours to the mast" - than he is expressing a fervent wish to go to New Zealand next year as a utility player. "I'd definitely want to go. On a Lions tour it's critical you take a back who can play in every position."

Before that, though, he has to squeeze back into the England frame. There are few scrum-halves around but even Leicester have given up using him at No9. Remember, too, the now famous joke cracked by Woodward after Healey flew to Australia as emergency World Cup cover? "The bad news is that Austin's flying out. The good news is he's going straight home again." Many a true word, etc.

Either way, even Healey does not sound hugely confident of a call-up to tour New Zealand and Australia next month. "You can't wait by the letter-box every day. I've spoken to Clive a bit but he's a busy man and I don't want to pester him. I've had bigger disappointments than not getting picked for an England tour."

Whatever lies in store, he can at least be relied on to express an opinion. Take the end-of-season play-offs: "I think the play-off for the top three is ridiculous because it devalues the hard work of the team who comes first. You only have to have injuries to key players at the end of the season when people are tired and that's it: 10 months of work goes down the drain. But the wild-card play-offs are a fair cop because they keep the season interesting. I'm a fan this year anyway."

Today, though, will feel like the good old days with Neil Back and Martin Johnson standing toe to toe with their former England colleagues Lawrence Dallaglio and Joe Worsley. And do not bet against Healey and Leicester producing a classic sting at the tail-end of a painful season.