Bundee Aki and Darren Sweetnam taking final step on testing Ireland journey

Bundee Aki and Darren Sweetnam stand poised to complete very different but equally demanding journeys into Test rugby when they pull on an Ireland jersey in Dublin tomorrow evening.

Aki, New Zealand-born of Samoan heritage, left a home on the other side of the world three years ago to fulfil his professional sporting ambitions.

Sweetnam came from West Cork but sacrificed an inter-county hurling career with the Rebel County to start on the bottom rung with the oval ball.