At a time when the Lions' could do with a bit of cheer, the Tyrone Howe story should be quickly put together, bound and dispersed amongst the players. As nice guys go, they're not much nicer than Tyrone, and feel good stories don't come much better.

Howe effectively missed out on what might be regarded as the peak three years of his career in his mid-20s. Having played with Oxford for two seasons, including the Varsity matches of 1994 and 1995, Howe was laid low with a persistent groin injury, which required a couple of operations and left him the forgotten man of Irish rugby.

The way he recalls it, he plumbed the depths alright. "Basically, I stopped after the Varsity match in December 1995, and bar a couple of matches for London Irish the following season I didn't play really until December 1998. It was a long time, and I can remember one or two occasions where I reckoned it was as close to rock bottom as you could get. So it's difficult to come to terms with what's happened in the last 12 months."

Howe made his first tentative steps towards reviving his career in the unlikely surrounds of Newbury RFC, helping them win promotion from the English National League Four South, before returning home two summers ago at the age of 28. He had to prove his fitness to earn an Ulster contract, but in fairness to Harry Williams, and the likes of Willie Anderson at Dungannon, he was soon relaunching his career with the then newly-crowned European Champions.

Howe was unfortunate that Ulster were suffering a hangover that season, but he was one of their few successes. His elevation to Ireland's squad for the tour of the Americas last summer had much to do with the abrasive Pieter Muller, and the spate of injuries to Denis Hickie, Brian O'Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey which led to Howe's late call-up and a try-scoring debut in the win against the USA.

Now Ireland's established left winger, he's had a prolific season for club, province and country, and a year after his debut the rollercoaster has taken him to Coffs Harbour. After a crowded press conference at the squad's hotel on Monday, Howe's head spun 360 degrees as the questions came in from all angles, mostly from people he'd never met.

A very bright lad and utterly unfazed, he is typically thoughtful in his responses. He seems almost as surprised as some of his questioners, though the way he explains it, you can readily appreciate where his bust-a-gut and high-tempo performances have come from.

"Well the reason for me coming back to rugby after three years off was that I felt very unfulfilled. The injury had really cut me down in my prime, and the reason for coming back was to try and get a bit of contentment back in my rugby. Because of that I just approached it with the idea of giving 100 per cent on the pitch and enjoying it. And that has been what's driven me on since then.

"I've worked very hard, and even though I'm arguably coming to it quite late in my career, I think I've developed as a player in the last 18 months and I think I've probably got a lot more still to learn. So I think it's the result of a lot of hard work, but also a lot of enthusiasm which I've brought back to the game because I was out for so long."

Having been through the dark times and now that it's come to him relatively late, surely Howe appreciates it even more?

"Yes, it's very difficult for me to actually rationalise standing here now and playing for the Lions on Tuesday, but having been out of the game for so long, you do reflect on it a little bit more and you appreciate it for what it is. I feel very grateful that I'm here and I'd just like to do myself justice when I do play."

At times like that you discover who you're friends are. "Obviously, I'm over the moon for my parents. They've been fantastic. One person certainly is a guy called Mark Bender who's a physio specialist in London and who's dealing with Phil Greening at the moment. And had I not met him I don't think I would have been playing rugby.

"And people like my club coach at Dungannon, Willie Anderson. I just know how much it will mean to him and how happy he'll be. There have been various people who have invested a lot of time and effort, so it's great because you'll know how much it will mean to them."

As it happened he didn't have time to touch base with family and friends as he received a call from a Lions' official in Heathrow last Thursday morning, at the end of a two-day visit to London following a fortnight's holiday in America.

"I had a quick pop across to Dublin and then back again before heading out on Thursday evening. It's been a hectic couple of days.

Howe's unlikely emergence as a Lion had a further symbolism as he stood there on Monday, wearing track suit bottoms and a polo shirt with Ronan O'Gara's initials.

"I've been given a bit of stuff that I can train in but as yet I haven't managed to get my other gear, so I'm looking forward to that arriving."

TH's own personalised Lions gear. Well, well, well. "I had a dream of playing for Ireland, I never, ever dreamt I'd pull on a Lions shirt, so it's obviously the pinnacle of my rugby career and it marks the peak of what has been a pretty incredible comeback for me from serious injury."

He doesn't say this as if to pat himself on the back, merely as a matter of fact.

"I'm pleased for all the people back home, and a lot of people who invested a lot of time in me. I just want to approach it in the same way I've been approaching my rugby for the last season or two, which is to enjoy it and give it 100 per cent."

We know he'll do that much.