Nick Timoney has had to show a lot of patience to prove he belongs at international level, finally making his Six Nations debut in Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning campaign.
The 30-year-old has been a squad member in the Irish set-up since 2021 but with huge competition in the back row he has had to bide his time for regular action in the green shirt.
This year’s tournament heralded a sea change not just for Timoney but for a number of his Ulster team-mates, including the impressive Stuart McCloskey, as they played a key role in Ireland’s success and the Dublin-native is pleased to have made a contribution.
“For all these years when you’ve been waiting and hoping to play in the Six Nations games you tell yourself that if you did get your chance you’d be amazing and it would all go well, but until it actually happens you’re kind of bluffing a little bit,” he said.
“So it was great for me personally as I put an incredible amount of hard work into what I do, as does everyone else.
“To actually get the opportunity to prove that I belong at that level was amazing for me on a personal note and I feel for the most part I did a reasonable job at it.”
The Ulster back row came off the bench in the opening three rounds, including a try-scoring appearance in the opening night 36-14 defeat by France, before being handed a first tournament start in the win over Wales along with six other club mates.
Timoney came off the bench again as Ireland secured the Triple Crown with a convincing home win over Scotland, and even though Thomas Ramos’ last-gasp penalty meant title joy for France it failed to dampen the forward’s spirits as he looks to carry that feel-good factor into Ulster’s remaining games this season.
“It was an incredibly enjoyable few weeks although there would have been even more of an afterglow if the French didn’t hit an 80th-minute winner against the English,” he said.
“It was a great experience and great for us as a club with Stu looking like he’s the star of things and Rob Baloucoune being amazing, as well as Tom O’Toole and the other lads getting a game.
“Having seven lads feature in the Wales game was fantastic too. That’s got to be the most for a good few years and it’s hard not to be buzzing with it.”
