A boyhood dream becomes reality for Craig Casey

GAME FACE ON: Craig Casey: 'when you are walking down the street and everyone is stopping you wishing you well and saying 'We are glad that you're here for the Tests' – you see how rugby-mad the country is. It's class, it's exactly where you want to be as a rugby player.'

After catching the rugby bug as a six-year-old watching the Maori All Blacks, Craig Casey says it will be a dream come true to play against them when Ireland kick off their New Zealand tour in Hamilton on Wednesday.

The Munster scrum-half, like many of the 40-strong playing squad in New Zealand preparing for Ireland’s rigorous schedule of five games in three weeks, is experiencing an international tour for the first time in his fledgling Test career after two years lost to the Covid pandemic.