He’s come a long way in a short period of time but Tadhg Furlong is about to take another gigantic step forward in his ascending career.
The 24-year-old prop has rapidly risen through the ranks at Leinster, he has earned a reputation for himself as one of Ireland’s key performers and he is now set to make his Lions Test debut against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.
Having made his Leinster bow in 2013, an Ireland call-up arrived soon after just prior to the World Cup in 2015. His progress has been rapid, it’s been a whirlwind, but he’s enjoying every moment of it.
It's 2013, it's his debut and @tadhgfurlong still hasn't copped on that @FanjUnoCuatro has pulled a fast one… #AllForOne #heaveFanjheave pic.twitter.com/3VTiv9VFK4
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) June 21, 2017
Furlong’s path to the highest level of rugby is unique but it’s not surprising. Furlong’s agricultural attitude both on and off the field is backed up by his GAA roots and his farming stock in county Wexford.
“It’s weird the journey you take when you get your first international start and you get exposed to that big world, and all its pressures,” said Furlong, who has 16 Ireland caps to RTÉ sport.
“As you get used to it and spend more time in that high-pressure environment, you can probably let your game play a bit more.
“I came out of the November Tests with a lot of confidence.
He is a fan’s favourite in Ireland, and it’s no wonder why.
Furlong knows where he’s come from, he knows the dedication he has put into becoming one of the most feared scrummagers in the British Isles.
He realises the scale of his achievements, and he has enough maturity to realise that these types of opportunities don’t come around so often as he revealed in the Lions press conference on Thursday morning.
“It’s the pinnacle of any rugby player’s career. I’m living the boyhood dream.”
Furlong’s Ireland team-mate Peter O’Mahony will captain the British and Irish Lions on Saturday against the All Blacks and Furlong couldn’t have chosen a better man for the role
“I think Pete brings a dog, edge, a hunger and hard work,” said Tadhg Furlong to reporters in the Lions’ press conference on Thursday morning.
“He leads a lot of the time by his actions and a lot of the unseen work that he does. I couldn’t speak highly enough of him as a captain. When you go into the trenches and the game becomes tight, he’s the man everyone rows in behind,” said the prop forward.
With these two Irish warriors in the Lions ranks, they certainly won’t go down easy on Saturday.
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