The trajectory of Tadhg Beirne's career may be studied for years to come as a lesson in perseverance.
Let go by Leinster at the end of the 2015/16 season after making just four senior appearances, the then-24-year considered quitting the game to concentrate on his education.
Instead he packed his bags after an offer came in from Scarlets and he hasn't stopped to glance in the rear-view mirror since.
One year later he had a Pro14 winner's medal in his hands after returning to Dublin to beat Leinster in the semi-final and then Munster in the decider.
The Reds brought the Kildare man, voted players' player of the season in 2017/18, back to these shores at the end of that season and just prior to that he earned his first cap under Joe Schmidt in 2018 on the tour of Australia.
He has since racked up 29 test caps, including two for the Lions from their tour of South Africa last summer.
And last week he signed a contract extension with the IRFU and Munster that will see him through to 2025.
"I think towards the end of my Leinster career certainly, most people know I was at the brink of packing it in," said Beirne, who will likely feature for Ireland against Italy on Sunday (3pm).
"And then through my Scarlets career I didn't know if I would ever come back to Ireland, I suppose things just picked up towards the end of my first year and I kind of kicked on in my second year.
"But I don't think I ever expected to get into a position that I'm in now where I've gone along to play with the Lions and had a good run of games starting for Ireland now, and now to get a central contract as well.
"It's a massive honour for me and it's something where I never really thought I'd get to in my career."
A versatile forward, Beirne has played at number 8 and on the flank for Ireland but most of his appearances have come in the second row.
Sometimes a player's versatility can go against them as they are seen as an ideal replacement to cover a number of spots but such is Beirne's form at the moment, the conversation has moved on to which starting jersey he gets.
His experience across the back five of the pack has given him a wider appreciation of the game.
"Yeah, for sure. I think when I was in Leinster and Fogs [John Fogarty] was scrum coach there, he was always saying to me towards the end that I should be playing 6," the 30-year-old said.
"I was playing 6 for Lansdowne under Mike [Ruddock] the odd time so I would have taken that opportunity if I was given it.
"But I didn't get that opportunity until I went to Scarlets and I think adding that position to second row, and then obviously going on to play 8 for Scarlets a few times as well, they're massive learnings and incredible experiences on the field.
"Playing different positions definitely stands to you, you get a better knowledge of what's expected of you in those roles as well.
"Whatever Faz [Andy Farrell] decides to do in terms of the starting line-up is up to him.
"He might feel that I could have a better impact off the bench, which is fine. He may decide that he doesn't want to play me for the game at all.
"I just have to be prepared for whatever that decision is and get in the right frame of mind for making an impact, starting, on the bench or even if I’m just preparing the team."
Ireland's new brand of rugby "definitely" plays to Beirne's strength as an intelligent ball-player and a breakdown menace.
"I’ve learnt so much in this brand of rugby that Faz is about, it’s quite simple in terms of what he’s asking of us," added Beirne, also a shrewd operator at the lineout.
"It makes so much sense, you always feel like you’re involved in everything that is going on on the field which makes it incredibly enjoyable.
"Other types of game plan and that, you come in and out of the game in terms of involvement but what is being asked of us here, I’m involved every single time. It’s definitely some of the most enjoyable rugby I’ve been involved in for sure."
And while it's certainly not part of the job description, Beirne has no fear of putting boot to ball when required.
A sidefoot volley from a cross kick led to a try for Munster in their early-season interpro against Connacht, while last time out in Paris, he came up with the lesser-seen forward's 50:22, snapping up a loose ball and left-footing it to perfection.
"I saw the space all right, yeah," he said with a smile.
"No, I just kind of put my foot to it and thought if it hit along the ground it might get out.
"I didn’t know if it was going to be a 50:22 or if it was going to be outside the 22 but it worked out anyway, which is the main thing or I might have been getting a bollocking from the lads inside here.
"Yeah, [it was] my first, definitely. Hopefully not the last. I’ve had a few kicks all right, yeah, a few poor ones as well."
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