If there's any such thing as a veteran at Under-20s level then Hugh Gavin fits the bill.
The versatile back, who can play centre or wing, played every minute of last season’s Six Nations Grand Slam campaign, and then featured in all five games of Ireland’s run at the U20 World Championship where they lost out in the final to France.
The Galway native is back again as one of four men who played under Richie Murphy in 2023. He admits that his elevation, with a year to spare, to the front line came as a surprise.
"Going in, I was maybe an outsider at the start of the season," he said.
"I was only Under-19, I hadn't really played too many high-level games, played an Eagles (Connacht A) game, was surprised to get called up to that camp.
"All I was thinking of was trying to put my best foot forward, and ended up getting selected for the squad, was delighted to get into the matchday team.
"Every game was about proving myself again. I think the coaches maybe saw that hard work and I was getting selected then so I was happy.
"It was definitely tough on the legs, thankfully I wasn't picking up niggles so recovery wasn't too bad, it was just mainly rest, getting yourself ready for the next game.
"That's why you play rugby, you play to play in the big games. I enjoyed every second of it."
He’s now a leader within the squad and is eager to help out the new crop with what they can expect as they try to defend their crown, starting with a clash with France on Saturday week.
"The first game is a big game for lads that haven't got selected at that level," Gavin (above) adds.
"It's on the TV, there's a packed-out stadium, you get butterflies but as the tournament went on I got more comfortable, more and more confident pre-game, not really thinking about anything else.
"I just focused on the game. For the lads this year it's important to keep them in the game, and not let anyone think of the outside stuff, just focus on your next job.
"Yeah, 100% [it’s great experience], even around helping the younger lads coming out of school.
"They are very talented players and they are hungry to learn but it's also very good having lads that know how we want to play in the squad just to give them bits of details and in fairness, they are hanging on to it."
A talented Gaelic footballer in his younger days, Gavin, a Galwegians clubman, admits rugby was his first love.
"I started around five or six, my dad was coaching," he said. "The club's helped me so much in that way, all up through age grade and then with Connacht.
"I was fairly into the GAA. I had to give it up after minor.
"We had an early exit in the Championship that year. I enjoyed my football. It added to my game as well, the fitness levels would always have been quite good from the Gaelic and my hand-eye coordination, but rugby had my heart from the start."
Gavin has yet to feature for Connacht's senior side but it seems just a matter of time and he plans to emulate his heroes from 2016.
As a young boy, he and his family travelled to Edinburgh to see the team claim the Pro12 title, beating favourites Leinster in a thrilling final.
"I was over at it, it was an unbelievable day," he said. "Just the build-up, everyone outside the stadium, probably one of my favourite rugby memories.
"After the game, I'd never seen my dad in tears, he was flooded. All the players coming up, high-fiving us after the game, it was unbelievable. It's something I'll always dream about doing.
"It was always going to be rugby but that would have sealed it. That will always be my dream, to win silverware with Connacht.
"I was 11 or 12. We took the ferry over, myself and my dad and my two brothers, a real good trip for all of us. They were all heavily into the rugby as well.
"We'd get on very well and talk about it a lot."
