When Joe Schmidt named his 35-man squad for the opening two game of the Six Nations against Wales and France, among the names was a 22-year-old from Tralee.

Ultan Dillane - born in Paris to an Irish mother and an Ivorian father - moved to his mother's native Tralee after seven years in France.

In this week's edition of The Kerryman, a tale is related regarding Dillane's initial reluctance to play the sport at which he has become so adept.

Five years after moving to Kerry, the 6' 6" second row's mother bribed both him and his brother to try their hand at rugby.

He was 12 years of age and a friend of his brother Cian wanted the siblings to play with the local club in Tralee, but Ultan wasn't really that pushed about it. Finally, afer his mother Ellen bribed the brothers with a fiver each to just give it a go, they eventually agreed and the rest, as they say, is history.

That bribe would prove to be a beneficial one.


Nine years later, Dillane would make his debut for Connacht against Leinster in the Pro12.

Speaking to TG4 last year, Dillane described it as the 'best fiver she has ever spent'.