Much like Mitchell and Webb’s beloved sketch about football, it does feel as though the rugby is going on forever, with a relentless schedule for the world’s top players.<\/p>\n
That is no different for the Irish squad, many of whom played a pivotal role in Leinster’s URC final victory over the Bulls less than a fortnight ago.<\/a><\/p>\n For those Leinster players who went on last summer’s Lions tour, the rugby has been almost non-stop for multiple calendar years now, with a Champions Cup final against UBB lengthening their season even further.<\/p>\n However, for most of the other figures in this Ireland squad<\/a>, it has been a far quieter few months.<\/p>\n Though they have secured a place in next season’s Champions Cup, the end of the season for Connacht came to an end over a month ago, as they were dispatched by Glasgow Warriors in the URC quarter-finals. A day later, Munster, too, saw their season end as they were hammered by the Bulls<\/a> in South Africa. Munster’s failure to progress in Europe meant the back end of their season was extremely sparse.<\/p>\n \n Recommended\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Ulster enjoyed more continental success, but their failure to progress to the URC playoffs meant their season ended with the Challenge Cup final defeat to Montpellier.<\/p>\n Many in Irish rugby have expressed concerns about the growing chasm between Leinster and their provincial rivals, but Bernard Jackman strangely thinks it could play into Ireland’s hands down under this summer.<\/p>\n Jackman hints at strange Irish provincial advantage<\/p>\n<\/p>\n