Duffy on a mission – to upset all his old pals

LIFE can be difficult enough for any young Irish emigrant, what with trying to adapt to a new environment, new culture, new friends. Even for the most adventurous there will always be the tug of home, the yearning for the familiar, for old faces, old friends.

Consider then, the situation of 22-yr-old Gavin Duffy this weekend.

This time 12 months ago, Gavin was comfortably settled in Galway, a rising star, standout with Connacht, his home province, the Cinderella-team of Irish rugby. Home was beautiful Ballina, less than a couple of hours up the road, Galway was hopping, friends galore on and off the park, craic mighty.