In the early days of professional rugby, young players like O’Gara, Stringer, O’Driscoll, and Hickie found a relatively clear path to their success. As young players, they seamlessly transitioned into their provincial teams, laying the foundation for long, illustrious careers. The generation before them, predominantly amateurs, offered little resistance to their ascent. Fast-forward to the present, and the scenario couldn’t be more different. The latest crop of professional players faces a congested route to the top, ironically due to Irish rugby’s success. Ireland has again become the world’s top-ranked team, following South Africa’s recent defeat to Argentina. Coupled with the…

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