When we asked the guys if they realised at the time just how big a deal it was to be representing Ireland at an international level at such a young age, Calvin Nash told us the following:

“I think, looking back, I probably didn’t think it was as big as what it was. I tried to play it down in my head. Singing the national anthem was really emotional that first time, it is kind of overwhelming. You don’t think that the national anthem is going to have that effect on you! Looking back, it was an unbelievable experience, and I am so honoured to have taken part in the U20s. I look back on it very fondly.”

Additionally, Calvin discusses how important and helpful having that U20s experience was for him when it came to getting ready for the rest of his career:

“All of the media coverage around it was probably something I wasn’t used to, and I supposed getting used to that was kind of tough at the start, being in the limelight. But obviously, it is a brilliant way to bridge the gap between what we go through in professional rugby, going into camp, and working with different physios. It does bridge that gap a lot.”

When the conversation turned to the coaches who really helped them during their U20s days, they all had someone who immediately came to mind. Calvin talked about Nigel Carolan, while Jordi brought up Mike Ruddock. Meanwhile, Dan brought us back to his days being coached by none other than Paul O’Connell:

“I remember being absolutely amazed by the amount of detail he goes into in the minute detail of the lineouts. He gets involved in scrum stuff, he gets involved in breakdown, he gets involved in everything. He goes through everything with a fine toothcomb. You think you’re getting away with stuff in training, and he teaches you that you’re not going to get away with it.

“It is definitely something that I’ve learned, and it has helped me as my career has gone on, that you’ve got to cover your basics and have to nail all of your small bits in your game before you can do any of the nice, flairy stuff.

“Paul has definitely had a massive impact on my career, and obviously now in the senior team, the two of us have come up together in some ways. It is great to see that he hasn’t changed a whole lot, and he still sort of backs his way of doing things, just making sure the basics are done well. You can see it on the pitch, even today.”

While we fully associate these three players with amazing levels of success with their professional sports careers, it is important to remember that that wasn’t always the case.

During our conversations, they discuss being struck with imposter syndrome over the years when things started going their way, while Jordi talks about not making the cut for a very important championship:

“My first year out of school, which was 2009, that season I didn’t get selected for the U20s Six Nations. But then, obviously, I had played well enough during the season to go on the World Cup [U20 Championship] in the summer. But I definitely think it was the case that I wasn’t taking myself seriously enough.

“It was my first year out of school, and the sub academy training was pretty intense, but then I was also thinking that I’d see all of my mates from school and they were enjoying the college lifestyle. I wasn’t picking the right balance there, and I was taught my lesson pretty quick when I wasn’t picked for that original Six Nations.

“I probably had a chip on my shoulder off the back of that, and I imagined to play the U20s for the Leinster Development Team, which is something that happens every year. I played well enough and I was lucky enough then to get selected for the World Cup in the summer, but yeah, I definitely learned a lesson off the back of that.”