Talent was never in question, but Six Nations appearances eluded Nick Timoney until this year and while the 30-year-old is yet to start for Ireland in the competition, the back row insists he is "not worrying too much about what number I've got on my back".

The Ulster back row made his debut against the USA in 2021 but by the start of 2025, had made just four further appearances with two of those against the Maori All Blacks.

However, perseverance has started to pay off as after featuring against Georgia, Japan and Australia last year, Timoney has been introduced as a replacement in each of the three games in the 2026 Six Nations, crossing for a try in the opening defeat by France.

While the Dublin native would prefer to start when Ireland host Wales on Friday [20:10 GMT], he is happy to play his part and if that is best served off the bench, then so be it.

"Obviously I haven't played in the Six Nations before this season and it's something I've always dreamed of so obviously from that point of view just feeling very grateful to be given the opportunities," he told reporters this week.

"Everyone wants to start and I'd love to start as well, a lot of people say to me, friends and family, have said to me, 'you've been going well of the bench, when are you going to start', obviously I'd love to start but I still feel like I'm playing a game.

"If you come on for 30 minutes at Twickenham, you could argue the game wasn't necessarily in the balance at that stage but it's a pretty important part of things.

"I've always tried to not worry too much about selection, but the fact that the coaches are backing me to be in the squad and come on, and I'm getting to do what I've always dreamed of doing, I'm not worrying too much about what number I've got on my back."

If Timoney required reassurance that working hard would pay off, he did not need to look too far with Ulster club-mate Stuart McCloskey enjoying a rebirth on the international scene which he regards as "an incredible story of perseverance".

It also highlights that age is just a number in the mind of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, which has served as added motivation for Timoney.

"Stu is showing what we've already known at Ulster for a number of years, that he's one of the best players in the world.

"It feels like it's been the talk of world rugby but I wouldn't say it is in any way surprising to me. I'm delighted for him.

"For me, being so close to him and in quite a similar position to him in many ways -and for any professional rugby player - I think it's a great reflection on Irish rugby that from not being a consistent starter until this year, being aged 33 there'd probably be a lot of places in world rugby where there would be enough closed minds that the door would have been closed by now."

There was a time when Timoney felt that door was indeed closed, but performances in the white jersey of Ulster have led to opportunities in the green.

"There were definitely times I was fairly sure I wouldn't be playing for Ireland again," he admitted.

"Like last year's Six Nations, I didn't get picked in the wider squad and when you're 29 and you have a couple of caps and it's not like you're a complete unknown, it's fairly easy to believe that the chances might not come round again.

"I'm relatively proud of myself for not getting disenthused, keeping at it and backing myself and getting back to this point."