'I found it really, really difficult to be honest. I love playing rugby' - Stockdale on long injury lay-off

Outside of the team bubble, he had enough going on. He began a degree in Engineering. His wife Hannah was pregnant for almost the entire time of his recuperation.

BACK IN: Ulster's Jacob Stockdale with his wife Hannah and their daughter Phoebe (4 weeks old). ©INPHO/Tom Maher

FRIDAY night lights in Belfast, with the Leinster roadshow rolling into town is a long, long way from the lonely year Ireland and Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale has put in while recovering from a complicated ankle injury.

Thankfully, Ulster’s start to the United Rugby Championship has the winger’s juices flowing once again for the game, especially after their seven-try spectacular against Scarlets last weekend.