Devin Toner has high hopes for European campaign

It was called Route 6’6”. With the stocks of tall second rows at a critically low ebb, Leinster launched the search for alternatives around about this time five years ago.

Beanpoles from beyond rugby’s pale were the desired catch, a professional contract the bait. Colin McEntee, academy director at the time, and former lock Malcolm O’Kelly were involved. Devin Toner was, inevitably, wheeled out for the photoshoot to prompt men aged between 17 and 23 to try their hand at a lineout or two.

Little, if anything, came from it. Hopes of mining a hidden gem from the ranks of basketball or swimming came to naught but Leinster’s willingness to look beyond the norm has since paid off with Ian Nagle. Cork-born and Munster to the core, injury frustrations and wider ambitions had prompted the soon-to-be 28-year old to walk away from the game after 29 appearances in red and another handful for Newcastle Falcons.