Timoney's Six Nations Journey
Nick Timoney made his Six Nations debut off the bench in Paris earlier this year and has since appeared as a replacement in matches against Italy and England. Although the 30-year-old back row player has yet to start for Ireland in the competition, he remains focused on contributing to the team regardless of his role.
The Ulster back row first played for Ireland against the USA in 2021 but had only made four additional appearances by early 2025, including two against the Maori All Blacks. Despite limited opportunities, Timoney's persistence has been rewarded. After playing against Georgia, Japan, and Australia last year, he has featured as a substitute in all three games of the 2026 Six Nations, scoring a try in the opening defeat to France.
While Timoney, a Dublin native, would prefer to start when Ireland hosts Wales on Friday at 20:10 GMT, he is content to contribute off the bench if that is what the team requires.
"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 off 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."
McCloskey's Rise 'An Incredible Story'
Timoney finds encouragement in the resurgence of his Ulster club-mate Stuart McCloskey, whose return to the international stage he describes as "an incredible story of perseverance." This also reflects Ireland head coach Andy Farrell's approach, which values experience and has motivated 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 the world rugby where there would be enough closed minds that the door would have been closed by now."
Timoney admits there were moments when he believed his international career might be over, but strong performances for Ulster have reopened doors with Ireland.
"There were definitely times I was fairly sure I wouldn't be playing for Ireland again," he said.
"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."
