JackMcGrath

Jack McGrath’s patience has paid off and he will head to New Zealand this summer having blossomed into one of the premier loosehead props in world rugby.

The 27-year-old came through the ranks at Leinster and has regularly tussled with fellow Lion Cian Healy for game time for both club and country.

McGrath made his senior debut in 2010, having represented Ireland Under-20 the previous year in both the Under-20 Six Nations and the Junior World Championship. McGrath was part of the Emerging Ireland team that competed in the Tbilisi Cup in 2013, making his international debut later that year against Samoa.

He was named man of the match in that game, which was also Joe Schmidt’s first in charge of Ireland.

McGrath came off the bench in every game of the following RBS 6 Nations as Ireland claimed the first of back-to-back titles, scoring his first Test try in the win over Italy.

McGrath started the November Tests against both Australia and South Africa in 2014, and was started the first four games of the RBS 6 Nations in 2015.

He shared the No.1 jersey with Cian Healy during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but started every game of the following RBS 6 Nations, including scoring a try, once more against Italy.

By this stage McGrath had established himself as a regular starter and he got the nod both in the memorable win over the All Blacks, and also in four of the five games of the RBS 6 Nations in 2017.

A dynamic scrummager and a reliable ball carrier in the loose he has secured a place in Gatland’s squad this summer for his first British & Irish Lions Tour.