Ireland ambitions still burn for Luke McGrath

With 180 Leinster appearances to his name, and still only 29-years-old, Luke McGrath is one of the few players who could come close to breaking Devin Toner's record of 280 games for Leinster.

The scrum-half has long been one of the province's leaders, a regular stand-in as captain since he first skippered the side back in January 2016 at the age of just 22.

In a back-handed kind of way, his huge haul of Leinster appearances is probably a reflection of his international career, which has seen him fall well down the depth chart in the eyes of Andy Farrell.

Winning 19 caps under Joe Schmidt, the last of which came in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, McGrath was involved in the wider squad for the opening rounds of the 2020 Six Nations, but his only call-up since the Covid-19 pandemic came late in Ireland's Autumn Nations Series a year ago, drafted in as cover after an injury for his Leinster teammate Jamison Gibson Park.

In spite of his performances this season - three tries in five games - he continues to be on the outside looking in, with Connacht's Caolin Blade involved in the Ireland 'A' squad for next week's game against an All Black XV.

The Leinster nine hasn't given up hope of breaking back into the Test arena, though.

"You definitely get hopeful every time it comes around," he said, after winning Player of the Match in Leinster's 27-13 win against Munster on Saturday.

"I know the only way I'm going to get picked is if I play well with Leinster.

"I've just got to keep thinking that, even if I don't get picked this time around, you never know.

"I'll keep staying positive, I love playing for Leinster so that keeps it nice and easy when disappointment with Ireland comes around."

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