Ulster's Timoney 'grateful' for Ireland chances

Nick Timoney tells the BBC's Ireland Rugby Social podcast that he is relishing being a regular part of Ireland's matchday squads after having to be patient for his opportunities. Timoney was handed a starting place for Friday's win over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium Ireland forward Nick Timoney says the patience he needed to show before becoming a regular part of Andy Farrell's matchday squads has made him more appreciative of his appearances in the green shirt. Speaking to Gavin Andrews on BBC Sport NI's Ireland Rugby Social, external podcast, the Ulster back row explains that he thought he may never get the chance to prove himself on the international stage and is now relishing the prospect of trying to pin down a starting berth.

Timoney made his Ireland bow in a summer Test against the USA in 2021, being handed a chance to impress while others were on duty with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa. Since then, the 31-year-old was habitually part of Farrell's extended squads but added only two caps to his tally in the subsequent four years, coming off the bench against Argentina a few months after his debut, and then scoring two tries against Fiji in November 2022. An embarrassment of riches in the ultra-competitive back row positions meant he had to wait