Current Leinster star reveals his new coaching role for the province

Fascinating!

The abrasive lock has also been one of the country's most consistent performers over the past 12 months, bringing a meanness to any pack he is part of.

As he mentions himself, it doesn't seem long ago at all that he was just a young talent on the rise, barely out of school and U20s.

But he is now part of Leinster's senior leadership group, and with that comes extra responsibilities, including a coaching role.

The 25-year-old explained: “We were kind of in a player-coach role. Usually, I’d look at opposition line-outs, set-piece stuff.

“So it was a bit of a different thing, putting together a few clips of the opposition and deciding what points do we really hammer home. It was useful. You hear a lot from the coaches, but I think the players enjoyed hearing from the players on things like that.

“It was a different perspective, where you thought a bit more deeply about your game plan going in.”

Another big change for Big Joe is that he has had to get rid of his trademark mullet, which had nearly made its way down to his shoulders.