Devin Toner to bow out a legend of Irish rugby

At 6 foot 9 inches aged 27, Devin Toner couldn't get any taller, but he could get smarter and that’s what he did.

He was 24 when he made his Ireland debut and following three caps in the autumn of 2010 had to wait three more years for his next appearance in green.

But by the 2014 Six Nations he was a nailed-on starter for Joe Schmidt as he developed into exactly the type of player the New Zealander was looking for.

The usual trajectory of a man of Toner’s physical attributes would be to become a better player through experience but as he edged closer to 30 than 20 he was able to expand his skillset and became a crucial part of the international set-up, more often than not getting the nod ahead of more fashionable options.

It’s not a coincidence that the Meath man won the majority of his 70 caps during Ireland’s most successful period as they won three Six Nations titles, beat New Zealand for the first time and won a tour in Australia.

Toner, who yesterday announced his intention to retire at the end of the season, recalled that period.

"It didn’t just happen overnight," he tells RTÉ Sport, even if on the outside it looked that way.

"It doesn’t happen anymore that it takes time to bed in because lads are coming on the scene and they are ready for international rugby as soon as they leave school.

"I do remember getting more into it and getting more game time, in and around my Six Nations where I was starting in 2014.

"In around 12, 13, 14, I was starting off with Leinster, then starting with Ireland. It was probably around those years that I started to kick on.

"I don’t have any reason why. I didn’t try to focus on anything in particular.

I just focussed on me and my job. I knew I was dependable.

"To get to international level as a