Vikings, Valhalla and Metallica - Bealham steps up

Metallica, Vikings and Valhalla, it's not often you hear those words coming out of an Ireland rugby player's mouth.

Step forward prop forward Finlay Bealham, who is finding a new lease of life as starting forward in this Guinness Six Nations.

Bealham moved to Ireland from Australia 13 years ago and with both parents having Irish heritage, he fitted straight into the Irish way of life.

But he spent his formative years in Canberra and there's no doubt he's cut from a different cloth than the majority of professional players in Ireland.

"I came over as a teenager," he says of his move to the northern hemisphere aged 18.

"I came over a lot as a kid for holidays, but just myself as a teenager it was quite daunting at the time.

"Now all the hard work that's gone in, all the struggle and being away from family and friends I’d known as a kid just to pursue a dream of being a professional rugby player…fast forward a few years and Six Nations games, it’s crazy.

"Sometimes you take a step back and although I’m getting older still feel there is a lot in the tank and a lot I can give to playing with the green jersey of Ireland and Connacht as well."

With increased participation - the Connacht man had started just four of his 27 caps before this tournament, including one at loosehead - comes increased interest.

But first things first. What's the story with the hair?

"Yeah, I’m a big fan of Vikings and stuff like that, same as Ports [Andrew Porter]," he says to reporters when asked about his braided locks.

"Ports has a bit of a mohawk going on, I have the braids in, like Ivar the Boneless or Ragnar Lothbrok, that’s where I took it from.

"I feel like it’s part of the process. When the hair is done it’s getting close to game-time, getting close to