Max Deegan using Ireland A chance as step back to Test rugby

While the Guinness Six Nations and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff will be commanding the attention of the Irish rugby public today, Ashton Gate in Bristol on Sunday has an off-Broadway feel to it.

For those involved in Ireland's A meeting with England A tomorrow afternoon (1pm), it’s just as important as any international.

There’s always a fascinating narrative to an 'A’ international. The squad assembled by Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast this weekend has an interesting blend of inexperienced prospects who are looking to catch the eye, supplemented by a handful of full internationals who are doing everything they can to get back to the inner circle of the Irish rugby high performance centre.

Captain Max Deegan is part of the latter group. The 28-year-old has won two senior Ireland caps, the first in round two of the 2020 Six Nations against Wales, but an ACL injury a few months later saw him lose ground in the back row depth chart, and it would be November 2022 against Fiji when he would add to his international appearances.

For players like Deegan, this week is an opportunity, and he’s taken advantage of that opportunity before.

In September 2022, he captained Emerging Ireland for two of their tour matches in South Africa, which in turn led to a recall to the senior team.

And with Ireland likely to have a large contingent on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, the back row knows a big performance in Bristol today will go a long way towards getting another cap this summer, when Ireland take on Georgia and Portugal.

"It does feel great to be back in. Its been about two years since I was here," Deegan (above) said.

"I feel like everyone wants to leave an impression in the coach’s head so when they