Josh van der Flier: I learnt a huge amount from Ronan O’Gara

Josh van der Flier knows what it’s like to share a field with the current La Rochelle coach.

Leinster's Josh van der Flier. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Age can be measured by more than just birthdays. It will be 13 years this May since Ronan O’Gara called time on his playing career and Josh van der Flier actually knows what it’s like to share a field with the current La Rochelle coach.

The Leinster flanker was still knocking around the province’s sub-academy and undergraduate finishing school when they were called in to act as foils to an Ireland team preparing for Test windows under Joe Schmidt.