Hopes and Murphy kicking on for Ireland U20s

From centre-half to rugby full-back and then into the engine room, Joe Hopes has had quite the journey to the Ireland under-20 squad.

The Ulster forward, who has also been used on the flank, left what looked like a promising soccer career behind him to focus on the oval ball about three years ago.

Across the water, former team-mates are making waves, as was Hopes himself as part of the elite player pathway in the Northern Ireland system.

Callum Marshall and Patrick Kelly are with West Ham, Jamie McDonnell is at Nottingham Forest, while Charlie Lindsay is with Derby County.

"I played a lot of football, played a lot for Glentoran and then played underage for Club NI at the time," says Hopes (above), who made his Ulster debut against Connacht in November.

"When I was 15, 16 made the move permanently over to rugby.

"So I have had a different journey, played football and then moved into rugby. I have just been trying to put on size ever since."

Having bulked up, Hopes jumped from a stint at full-back into the pack.

If that rings a bell it's because it’s a similar path that Tom Ahern took. The former U20s star has been outstanding for Munster and even earned a call-up to the Ireland training panel for the Guinness Six Nations before injury ruled him out.

The former Campbell College man said: "I remember when he was U20s, someone told me that he moved from full-back to second row and I was playing full-back at the time.

"Someone told me to watch him, that he transferred to second row.

"I remember him scoring a try, he was really fast for how big he is.

"I do look up to him and he has been playing six recently and doing well. And then Ryan Baird as well, both players that I aspire to be like."

As for what football skills he reckons can