Dungannon flanker Andrew Hughes was outstanding for Ireland in the weekend's under-21 international against England. Three years on the Ireland schools' team, Hughes has always been fast-tracked for success but his form dipped a little bit last year. He travelled to Argentina during the summer but didn't really make an impression on the first-choice XV.

However, this season is another matter and Hughes is playing well for Dungannon and translating that form to the international arena. Similar in style and physique to his predecessors at this level, Barry Gibney and Richard Woods, Hughes looks set to be one of the most influential young players.