Nick Timoney has credited the "incredible story" of Stuart McCloskey for his own recent renaissance in the Ireland squad.
McCloskey has been Ireland's player of the championship so far in the 2026 Guinness Six Nations with three starring performances against France, Italy and England, finally cementing his position as first choice inside centre at the age of 33.
While McCloskey has won 26 caps for his country, just six of those came before turning 30, a scenario his Ulster team-mate can relate to.
Timoney made his Ireland debut against the USA in the summer of 2021, and while he was a regular in extended Ireland squads, he only added two more caps prior to last summer’s tour of Georgia and Portugal.
Having made a couple of appearances in 2025, the 30-year-old has worked his way back into Andy Farrell’s thinking, and has made significant contributions off the bench in all three of Ireland’s Six Nations outings in 2026.
And the Ulster back row jokes that this has been "infinitely better" than his previous Six Nations experiences, for the simple reason that he’s actually played.
"I've loved it. Obviously, I haven't played in the Six Nations before this season and [it’s] something you always dream of," Timoney, who has won eight Ireland caps, says.
"So from that point of view, I've been just feeling incredibly grateful, grateful to be given the opportunities."
Much like McCloskey, Timoney’s position on the pitch has contributed heavily to his lack of caps.
The consistency and stability of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan hasn’t helped his cause when it comes to gametime.
Although it took him longer than expected to make a Six Nations debut, he’s keen to make up for lost time.
"There were definitely times where I would be fairly sure I wouldn't be playing for Ireland again.
"Like last year at the Six Nations, didn't get picked in the wider squad and when you're 29 and you have a couple of caps, it's not like you're a complete unknown or anything. It's fairly easy to believe that the chances might not come around again.
"I'd say I was relatively proud of myself for not getting disenthused or anything and sticking at it and backing myself and being able to get back to this point."
McCloskey (below) has also spoken of his frustrations earlier in his career when he had to be patient behind Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw for a place in the Ireland team.
And Timoney believes his Ulster team-mate's story is one every player can learn from.
"I almost even said it to him the other day. There actually is an incredible story there really of perseverance.
"For me, being so close to him and for being in actually quite a similar position probably in a lot of ways, definitely. But just for anyone really, any professional rugby players, it's a great story.
"I think it's a great reflection on Irish rugby that he's probably never really been a starter consistently until this year.
"He's 33. There'd probably be a lot of places in the world - in world rugby - where they'd be closed-minded enough that the door would be closed at that stage."
His praise of McCloskey, however, does come with a caveat.
"I could do with his confidence not being as high sometimes, when you spend as long with him as I do.
"But no, Stuart's just showing what we at Ulster have already known for a number of years, I feel, which is that he's one of the best players in the world. I think it’s been the talk of world rugby almost. But I wouldn't say it's surprising in any way to me.
"Obviously, I actually am delighted for him but he’s certainly happy for himself too," he jokes.
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It can be hard to make an impact off the bench, but Timoney has caught the eye each time he’s been subbed on in this championship, attacking the game with pace and energy.
Workrate off the ball has been his calling card, with his roles in kick-chases against both Italy and England contributing to turnovers which have yielded tries.
There’s an interesting story behind that appetite for chasing kicks.
"It was actually Bill Johnston," he explains, referencing the Tipperary-born former Ireland U20 out-half, with whom he played at Ulster.
"We played an A game back in 2020 for Ulster against Munster A. He gave a good minute or two speech before the game about how no one really cares about kick-chase. But he had this massive thing for kick-chase.
"And it was when box kicks were starting to become really big. And he'd be circling around the backfield 20 metres behind the ruck trying to time it so he'd sprint onto it. I just thought it was class. So I was like, 'I'm going to do that with you’.
"It actually became a really good way to get into games and stuff.
"At the start of my career it felt like box-kicking was very frowned upon. Now you have to.
"In my eyes, it was like, ‘if we're going to kick the ball away, I might as well make this part of my game too’. So I tried to chase-kicks," he added.
In normal circumstances, his impact off the bench would be worthy of a starting role for Ireland’s final games against Wales and Scotland, but with Josh van der Flier returning to form last time out, he may have to be content with another cameo against the Welsh on Friday night.
"Everyone wants to start and I'd love to start as well, but a lot of people have said that to me, ‘When are you going to start?’
"Friends and family are obviously trying to imply that I've been going well off the bench and obviously I would love to start. But I still feel like I'm playing the game.
"If you come on for 30 minutes in Twickenham, maybe you'd argue the game wasn't necessarily in the balance at that stage, but that's a pretty important part of things.
"I've always tried to not worry too much about selection or whatever it is but the fact that the coaches are backing me to be in the squad, and to come on when games are being decided, and I'm getting to do what I've always dreamed of doing.
"I’m not worrying too much about what number I've got in my back," Timoney added.
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