From centre-half to rugby full-back and then into the engine room, Joe Hopes has had quite the journey to the Ireland under-20 squad.
The Ulster forward, who has also been used on the flank, left what looked like a promising soccer career behind him to focus on the oval ball about three years ago.
Across the water, former team-mates are making waves, as was Hopes himself as part of the elite player pathway in the Northern Ireland system.
Callum Marshall and Patrick Kelly are with West Ham, Jamie McDonnell is at Nottingham Forest, while Charlie Lindsay is with Derby County.
"I played a lot of football, played a lot for Glentoran and then played underage for Club NI at the time," says Hopes (above), who made his Ulster debut against Connacht in November.
"When I was 15, 16 made the move permanently over to rugby.
"So I have had a different journey, played football and then moved into rugby. I have just been trying to put on size ever since."
Having bulked up, Hopes jumped from a stint at full-back into the pack.
If that rings a bell it's because it’s a similar path that Tom Ahern took. The former U20s star has been outstanding for Munster and even earned a call-up to the Ireland training panel for the Guinness Six Nations before injury ruled him out.
The former Campbell College man said: "I remember when he was U20s, someone told me that he moved from full-back to second row and I was playing full-back at the time.
"Someone told me to watch him, that he transferred to second row.
"I remember him scoring a try, he was really fast for how big he is.
"I do look up to him and he has been playing six recently and doing well. And then Ryan Baird as well, both players that I aspire to be like."
As for what football skills he reckons can transfer to rugby, Hopes, one of four players who featured in last season's squad, said: "I like to think that I am quite fast and agile.
"I think spatial awareness when attacking, finding space in defensive lines. I’d say my footwork."
Hopes isn’t the only one in the Ireland squad who played ball as a younger man.
Out-half Jack Murphy (above) had an upbringing in two codes as well.
"As a kid l loved both," says the Wicklow native.
"I used to say if I couldn’t play for Leinster I’d go and play for Man United, but you realise that’s not possible.
"I played soccer from four or five until about the age of 15.
"I played out in Cabinteely Football Club, they're kind of like Joey’s [St Joseph’s] rivals, but I played out there for a while, I loved it.
"It was great, I think the more sports you play it helps with the rugby.
"I was a centre-mid, a goal-scoring centre-mid.
"I played with Ruben Moloney, he’s in the Leinster sub-academy, he plays with UCD.
"I played with him. I played with Finn [Treacy] there as well, he was the centre-back, I used to whip the balls in and he’d head them in."
Murphy is the son of head coach Richie and brother of scrum-half Ben, who has nine Leinster appearances to his name, including a first start against Dragons in November.
Jack says that separating the roles of coach and father-son is not a problem.
"When I’m in camp and in training and stuff, he’s Richie, the coach, nothing will change there," he says.
"It was the same when I played Irish Schools and 19s, he’s the coach, just Richie.
"When I go home, he’s my dad again. You can put that to the side when you’re at home, and when you’re in camp it’s pretty full on with your coach."
The brothers also recently lined out together for Clontarf in the AIL.
"That was definitely a special day for the family," added the former Pres Bray student.
"I think I came on for my AIL debut against Terenure.
"Ben was playing 9 for a few minutes, and the week after we both started against UCD, alongside each other at 9 and 10. That was a special day for the family.
"It’s pretty cool to play with such a good player at AIL level inside you at scrum-half.
"I think that was a really good day for me and hopefully we get a few more opportunities to play with each other in the future.
"I was delighted for him to get a run [for Leinster]. It’s really cool to see, it’s not everyday you see your brother playing professional rugby for Leinster.
"He has definitely helped me, grown me as a player, I’ve learned a lot from him. It was great to see him get a few run-outs for Leinster this year"
Defending champions Ireland face France in their opening U20 Six Nations match in Aix-en-Provence on Saturday 3 February.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow every Ireland game in the Guinness Six Nations on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch live coverage of Ireland v Wales (24 February) and England v Ireland (9 March) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
