The longest season comes to a close as Ireland head for a holiday on a high

The longest season is over. Almost.

For Hugo Keenan, who rocked up to Ireland camp on 18 June 2023, the decision to switch to Sevens means the full-back's season could stretch to 27 July when the Olympic Sevens comes to a conclusion.

He's hoping it will end with a gold medal.

Fifteen Tests, including World Cup heartbreak and a Six Nations title, yet more European disappointment and domestic frustration for the provinces, it will go down as a mixed season, even if the feelgood factor of late dropgoal winner against the world champions on the 391st day will carry the spirits of the players and fans for the summer recess.

The provinces racked up 102 competitive matches, with Leinster’s run to the Champions Cup final and URC semi-final bringing their total to 28.

Connacht had 24 matches, while Munster and Ulster's season ran to 25 games.

Add in eight Tests for the Women’s side, the Sevens World Series and it barely feels like you could fit it all in to a mere 13 months.

It all began with such promise as the reigning Grand Slam champions faced Italy, England and Samoa in the build-up to the World Cup.

Three wins of varying quality came out of those games but Ireland impressed with victories in France over Romania, Tonga, South Africa and Scotland, which brought their winning run to 17 Tests.

Alas, it was more familiar dejection at the final whistle of their quarter-final after a fired-up All Blacks side, who would go on to lose the final by a point, burst out of the blocks to establish a lead that Ireland, with Johnny Sexton still in harness, could not reel in.

It’s still hard to believe that was only nine months ago, it seems like a lifetime.

For Leinster, the bulk suppliers of the Ireland squad, a win on the road over arch nemesis La