In just a few days another season of the Top 14 kicks off with the likes of Owen Farrell, Siya Kolisi, Josua Tuisova, and Davit Niniashvili making the numbers of the overseas players ready to make the headlines and wrestle for the title.
The former England wing had a tough start in French rugby but is now a game away from a Top 14 final.
The charismatic Munsterman has the Dubliners in his sights and the mind games have begun
Sale dropped into the Challenge Cup after being brushed aside by La Rochelle as the French giants kept alive their bid for hat-trick of Investec Champions Cup titles.
The Stormers recorded their first Champions Cup win of the season, beating Stade Rochelais in Cape Town on Saturday.
La Rochelle winger Dillyn Leyds has opened up on what has given the back-to-back European champions the edge in the last few seasons, citing man management as a crucially important factor.
Let’s start with the players who are absent. Siya Kolisi, the most inspirational leader in world rugby and one of the most dynamic loose forwards from broken play. Handre Pollard, a World Cup winning fly-half who returned from injury and steered Leicester Tigers from eighth to third in the Premiership within three weeks.
When South Africa kick off their latest Junior World Championship campaign at home to Georgia in Stellenbosch on June 24, it will be two days after the 11th anniversary of their 2012 22-16 final win over New Zealand in Cape Town – the last time the tournament was held in that country.
There are numerous great rugby raconteurs... and then there is Ronan O’Gara, a ringmaster who habitually speaks his mind, beautiful or otherwise.