Cian Prendergast on his road from Damascus to World Cup hopeful

As a child Prendergast spent time living in Syria when his dad Mark, now a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Defence Forces, was based there with the UN

HOPEFUL: Cian Prendergast during an Ireland training session. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

One Prendergast has played a key part in an Irish World Cup campaign this year. The hope is that another will get to put his shoulder to the wheel when Andy Farrell’s squad takes aim at the biggest prize of all in France.

Richie Murphy’s side fell one hurdle short of the title in the U20s version in South Africa but the side won an enormous amount of respect for the way in which they conducted themselves on and off the field of play.