'I wouldn't have seen myself getting to this level' - Gibson-Park still learning as he hits new heights

If you got in on the ground floor and bought your Jamison Gibson-Park stock in 2016, you'd likely be able to cash out now and set yourself up for retirement.

For quite a few years, you'd have been waiting for the value to jump, the scrum-half tipping along as the able deputy to Luke McGrath in a Leinster side that was collecting on average a trophy a season.

But in the last 18 months, Gibson-Park's price has shot up.

Some eyebrows were raised when he was drafted in for his Ireland debut in late 2020. At the time, the New Zealander was very much a second choice to Luke McGrath at Leinster, and when he was picked by Andy Farrell ahead of his club team-mate, as well as Ulster's John Cooney, there were accusations that a project player was being allowed jump the queue at the expense of home grown talent.

Even as recently as 12 months ago, the jury was out on Gibson-Park as a Test player. He wasn't even in the wider discussion for a place on the Lions tour of South Africa, but were that tour to happen tomorrow morning, it's likely he's be the frontrunner to start the Tests.

The 30-year-old is a rare breed of player who became first choice at international level before he did so with his club. He ran before he walked, which neatly sums up his style of play.

With his relentless energy fitting perfectly into the Irish gameplan, Gibson-Park's shone in the last year, playing a critical role in wins against the All Blacks and England, while being one of Ireland's better players in the defeat to France in Paris.

Three years ago when Leinster were last in the Champions Cup final, the nine wasn't involved in the match-day squad in Newcastle, with Leo Cullen only able to pick two of his New Zealand and Australia contingent; James Lowe and