Ireland U20s veteran Hugh Gavin eager to lead the way

If there's any such thing as a veteran at Under-20s level then Hugh Gavin fits the bill.

The versatile back, who can play centre or wing, played every minute of last season’s Six Nations Grand Slam campaign, and then featured in all five games of Ireland’s run at the U20 World Championship where they lost out in the final to France.

The Galway native is back again as one of four men who played under Richie Murphy in 2023. He admits that his elevation, with a year to spare, to the front line came as a surprise.

"Going in, I was maybe an outsider at the start of the season," he said.

"I was only Under-19, I hadn't really played too many high-level games, played an Eagles (Connacht A) game, was surprised to get called up to that camp.

"All I was thinking of was trying to put my best foot forward, and ended up getting selected for the squad, was delighted to get into the matchday team.

"Every game was about proving myself again. I think the coaches maybe saw that hard work and I was getting selected then so I was happy.

"It was definitely tough on the legs, thankfully I wasn't picking up niggles so recovery wasn't too bad, it was just mainly rest, getting yourself ready for the next game.

"That's why you play rugby, you play to play in the big games. I enjoyed every second of it."

He’s now a leader within the squad and is eager to help out the new crop with what they can expect as they try to defend their crown, starting with a clash with France on Saturday week.

"The first game is a big game for lads that haven't got selected at that level," Gavin (above) adds.

"It's on the TV, there's a packed-out stadium, you get butterflies but as the tournament went on I got more comfortable, more and more confident pre-game, not really thinking