Rugby

“From 18 to the Ireland jersey, he has excelled and achieved at every single level,” says Peter Smyth, who coached the Blackrock College team that beat ...

He’s very good in the air, physically and technically he’s got a lot of attributes you need as a top-end 15. “He’s got a very good temperament and that’s because he’s always done the work. He’s grown in confidence and assertiveness, and particularly with the backfield, the responsibility of the position, it’s building that confidence in the players around him. “Preparation-wise, he was the first one in the changing room, doing foam rolling, band exercises… We managed to get the ball back in our 22 and went the full length of the pitch, side to side, everyone involved. You could see the more he played at a higher level, the more comfortable he got – and his ceiling is way higher, there’s so much more to go. “Playing New Zealand at the U20 World Cup, no one gave us a chance but he was one of the guys who came alive, in defence and attack. “Hugo was part of the age-grade pathway in Ireland, but he wasn’t a player who would have stood out. He came into the U20 programme and as a character was very quiet. “He was quite a late bloomer, so we only played together for the first team in our last year in school. “To end up in the Ireland team together was pretty crazy. He was extremely comfortable in all areas of the game.”