Versatile Max Deegan happy to have floating brief with Leinster

The eastern province are gearing up for a knockout clash with old rivals Munster. 

FULL FLIGHT: Max Deegan of Leinster during the URC quarter-final against Cell C Sharks. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Players in all codes have been breaking the chains that shackled them to pre-ordained positions and duties for some years now. Corner-backs kick points in Gaelic football, soccer has trialled everything from overlapping centre-backs to inverted wingers.

Rugby is treating us to playmaking tightheads and more and more utility backs who can shift from midfield to wing and then to full-back in the blink of an eye, but it is in the back row where the original of this versatile species still dominates.