Arrival of World Cup winner can drive young Ireland star to world class heights

02/12/2023

Tom O’Toole achieved a childhood dream when he made the cut for the World Cup in France.

It doesn’t get any bigger than playing for your country on rugby’s biggest stage but, suffice to say, O’Toole has a bit of unfinished business on that front.

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The 25-year-old saw just 30 minutes of action in France, as a replacement in the opening pool game against Romania. O’Toole didn’t see another minute of action after that.

9 September 2023; Ireland players, from left, Mack Hansen, Tom O’Toole and Jack Crowley stand for the national anthems before the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Romania at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Tadhg Furlong and Finlay Bealham were firmly ahead in the front-row pecking order.

It’s up to O’Toole in the coming years to change Andy Farrell’s thinking.

‘I’m so proud of the last few years but I want more,’ the Ulster tighthead admitted earlier this week.

‘For me, wanting more, you have to be a bit selfish. To play for Ulster, to be injury-free and to play as much as I can here is hugely important but then also internationally those ambitions are always going to be there. You’re happy when you get to a certain level and what you have achieved but you always want more.’

Tom O’Toole of Ireland celebrates his side’s fourth try during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

After a month out of action with a groin injury, O’Toole is back on duty and starts for his province against Edinburgh his evening.

His career has developed well in recent years but the next step is establishing himself as a leader in Ulster’s forward ranks. And this young pack will be looking to O’Toole for guidance tonight, especially with Iain Henderson ruled out due to injury.

Iain Henderson of Ulster is tackled by Josh Murphy of Connacht during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Ulster at The Sportsground in Galway. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

O’Toole completes a potent front-row featuring Tom Stewart and Steven Kitshoff, who makes his first senior start after the Springbok World Cup winner made his debut from the bench against Glasgow last weekend. And his presence can further the claims of his Irish front row colleagues.

If O’Toole and Co can win the set-piece battle than this stellar Ulster backline, which is beginning to find its groove again, can cause havoc.

15 October 2022; Tom O’Toole of Ulster in action against Reinhard Nothnagel, left, and Pieter Jansen Van Vuren, right, of Emirates Lions during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ulster at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Pic: Sydney Seshibedi/Sportsfile

Stuart McCloskey, James Hume, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale and Will Addison, back on the beat after two years of injury setbacks, all have Six Nations ambitions in 2024.

O’Toole should be in the mix for the championship as usual. Making the leap from fringe player to frontliner is his next big task.