Humphreys emerging from illustrious brother’s shadow

LIKE most ‘overnight’ sensations, Ian Humphreys had been paddling away furiously under the surface before he burst into the spotlight so serenely this past few months.

Though he had represented Ulster and Ireland at U21 level and captained the Irish Sevens side in Hong Kong last season, few people knew him as anything other than David’s younger brother until his star turn against Cardiff in the Heineken Cup last weekend.

With big bro blocking his path towards stardom at Ravenhill, Humphreys jumped at the chance to join the Tigers two summers ago but his beginnings in England were far from auspicious.