Jacob Stockdale admits he had thoughts of giving up on Test rugby during his five years in the Six Nations wilderness. Stockdale played the odd game and made a string of squads and camps, but there were times when the frustration almost got too much. “But the wee glint of hope that you might play international rugby again just keeps drawing you back in. Stockdale thought he was among this making way, left the field, and then reappeared as Tommy O’Brien got the message. “Both Zebre and Treviso in the URC have shown real form and they're getting better and better every game.

Source: Irish Examiner February 06, 2026 16:00 UTC