The parents of players on the national under-age rugby sides are well used to the travel demands imposed on them in following their offspring. But for some parents of the current Under-21 team, keeping tabs on their sons has proved a costly experience. Two summers ago they made the journey to Argentina for the SANZAR Under-21 invitational championships and while Ireland did not play in the vent last year, they will take up an invitation to do so in June.

The itinerary takes them even further around the world, this time to Australia for a tournament that includes the top under-age sides in the world game including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. That undertaking does not include following the team in the Under-21 Six Nations championship where they will be treated to the delights of Glasgow, Caerphilly and at the weekend, Ostia, a seaside town 40 kilometres outside of Rome.