Joe Schmidt is looking to the future.
The Ireland coach is eager to see if some of the country’s finest young talents have what it takes to mix it with the big boys.
To that end, he has included the Leinster pair of Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier to his extended training squad ahead of the 2016 Six Nations.
As Connacht coach Pat Lam has revealed, Schmidt has also called in 22-year-old lock Ultan Dillane.
The inclusion of the Galway Corinthians, Connacht and Ireland U20 second row, for the one-day camp, on Sunday, is somewhat of a shock.
The 22-year-old Kerry native only made his pro debut last season. He made eight appearances in 2014/15 but mostly off the bench.
His eight appearances this season have come in the Guinness PRO12 and in the Challenge Cup as Connacht have challenged for honours on two fronts.
Dillane, who stands at 6′ 6″, was born in Paris but raised in Tralee and played his club rugby, as a teenager, with Tralee RFC.
Following his side’s 13-0 defeat to Leinster at the RDS, last night, Lam expressed his delight at Dillane’s call-up. The Kiwi praised the young lock’s abrasiveness, youth and enthusiasm.
