Chicago return marks scale of Andrew Porter’s progress

For many in this Ireland squad, there are plenty of good memories about coming back to Chicago two years on from that famous first win over the All Blacks. For others, tonight’s game at Soldier Field represents another step along the road to fulfilling ambitions of their own.

Andrew Porter falls into the latter category. On the first weekend of November 2016, as many of his provincial teammates were etching their names in Irish rugby folklore under the Chicago sun, the prop, then a loosehead, was beginning his journey as a professional, playing for Leinster in Italy.