Jamie Osborne's taste of competitive action in the big games last season has given him an appetite for more of the same as Leinster get their season up and running.
The 21-year-old utility back played at first centre against Racing 92 and Gloucester in last season’s Champions Cup campaign, while he also started BKT URC games at full-back, wing and second centre.
His form was enough to earn a call-up for the extended Ireland squad ahead of the 2023 Six Nations and the summer series prior to the World Cup although his progress was halted by a knee injury.
"It was great being involved in a few big games with Leinster last year, Champions Cup and stuff like that," Osborne told RTÉ Sport at an Energia Rugby for All event.
"I probably got a bit unlucky with a few injuries towards the end of last season and a bit during the summer as well, even in camp but I enjoyed every second of it and I can’t wait to get going again this year.
"Hopefully [I] get a good run of games and push on and be involved in the big games.
"The training [in Ireland camp] was very intense over the summer and you saw the level the lads got to in some of the games at the World Cup was phenomenal.
"Obviously, very unlucky, I would say, to lose in the quarter-final [against New Zealand] but being in that environment, I suppose, you see exactly what you need to do to get back in there and actually play."
Osborne, who played for Ireland 'A’ against an All Blacks XV in November last year, knows he faces a tough task to break into what is a highly competitive department with Leinster team-mates Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, World Rugby player of the year nominee Bundee Aki from Connacht, and Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey ahead of him in the queue.
"The likes of Garry and Robbie are brilliant at helping younger players out and even just watching them in training and learning off them by what they are doing and how they are acting around the place," added the Naas RFC man, who has played 32 times for the province since making his debut in 2021.
"Even with them gone [on international duty], Charlie Ngatai as well has loads of experience, he has an All Blacks cap and has played for years so he’s brilliant to be around and learn from."
First up though comes the challenge of Edinburgh who have begun life under new head coach Sean Everitt with narrow victories over the Dragons and the Lions.
They were able to welcome back international players Blair Kinghorn, Grant Gilchrist, Hamish Watson, Ewan Ashman, WP Nel and Ben Healy for their 17-16 win over the South Africans.
Leo Cullen's side lost their opening game away to Glasgow Warriors before bouncing back with a bonus-point win over the Sharks last weekend.
"If you look at Edinburgh this week, they have so many Scottish internationals back playing for them, it will be such a big test, they are two from two so I’m really looking forward to it," added Osborne.
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