Sean Jansen says he's determined to work his way into Andy Farrell's plans and earn a full cap for Ireland.
The Connacht number 8 moved to Leicester from his native New Zealand in 2022 and arrived in Galway ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Since then the 6ft 3in, 18st Jansen has racked up 41 appearances for Stuart Lancaster's men, and featured in Emerging Ireland squad in 2024.
He played for Ireland 'A' and Ireland XV against England 'A' in the last 14 months.
The 26-year-old's two tries for Connacht against Scarlets last weekend took his season tally to eight and he sits on top of the BKT URC try-scoring chart.
There is fierce competition in the Ireland back row but it's a target that Jansen (below) is not afraid to shoot for.
"I've always been someone that’s liked shooting as high as possible and there was the pull to play footy in Ireland, where my heritage is, and hopefully one day play for the national side," said Jansen, who played for the Green Island club in Dunedin and for North Otago before moving overseas.
"That’s the dream. I want to get in there more than anything.
"I want to play with the best, play international footie. Ireland has become my home and I would love to go and wear that green jersey."
Dunedin-born, Jansen spoke about his upbringing, revealing he was something of a latecomer to rugby.
"I loved watching the All Blacks or the Highlanders whenever they were on," he said.
"But my mum is a nurse and she is pretty against rugby.
"My old man loves it, but my mum didn’t like it because she has seen all the injuries.
"So I didn't play rugby until Under-13s at school when my mates got me to play. I found a love for it and ended up being quite good at it.
"It shows you don’t have to be playing since you were five years old. You can start later.
"I wasn’t that big, but got the size when I was in my late teens and moved into the forwards.
"I’ve always loved the physicality. In New Zealand, every lunchtime you’re playing rugby or bullrush.
"That’s the way it is there, just running at someone and bumping someone off. It’s always been my thing."
After a season and a half with the Tigers, during which he made 15 appearances and scored five tries, Jansen (above) moved across to Ireland and the land of his maternal grandparents.
"They both left Ireland when they were 17 or 18 and met on the boat to New Zealand," he said.
"Back then, it was a two to three month trip.
"I was always proud to be Irish and it’s been pretty cool to come over here and meet all these family members I’ve never known.
"The beaches and the culture [in Dunedin] of going for coffee and going for breakfast, it’s similar to Galway, and it’s a Uni town as well. There are a lot of similarities between the two. Both are cousins of the big cities."
Connacht are back in action away to Ulster on Friday, looking for a fourth win in a row.
"Stu is a top coach," added Jansen, whose side are ninth in the table, of their head coach.
"He is the type of person that can walk in a room and control a room. He has that respect about him.
"He has definitely made us tighter. It’s enjoyable to go in every day, especially with the new facilities, which are so good.
"I’m really enjoying playing here and the performances have started to come."
