Rejected by Leinster, Prendergast and O'Toole earn their biggest Ireland starts

Cian Prendergast will start at blindside flanker for Ireland against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday, completing a journey that began with a painful rejection from Leinster during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Loosehead Tom O’Toole lines up alongside him in what represents the biggest international starts of both men’s careers.

Prendergast was 20 years old when Leinster academy manager Noel McNamara — now the architect of back-to-back Champions Cup wins at Bordeaux-Bèglès — called to tell him there was no place for him in the programme. Two back-row spots had already gone to Alex Soroka and Seán O’Brien, and a third was not available. “The world came crashing down around me,” Prendergast recalled. “I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

Within 36 hours, Eric Elwood had called with an offer from the Connacht academy. Prendergast accepted, and within six months made his senior debut against Edinburgh. His third and fourth appearances came against Racing 92 and Bristol in the Champions Cup — an unforgiving introduction to professional rugby. He called his parents, Mark and Ciara, to tell them he had been selected to start against Munster at Thomond Park. “They were delighted,” he said.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell cited Prendergast’s consistent development as the reason for his selection alongside Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan. “Cian has come a long way within his development over the last 12 months,” Farrell said. “The learnings he took from the autumn into the start of the Six Nations and how that progressed, and continued to progress. I think he’s been outstanding for Connacht, so he deserves this start.”

Prendergast is not alone in his story of second chances within the current Irish setup. Tadhg Beirne, a fellow Kildare native and three-time World Rugby dream team selection, was also released by Leinster before forging an elite career elsewhere. Eight years Prendergast’s senior, Beirne will start on the bench in Sydney — backing up the man who has, in some ways, followed his path.

“I remember having conversations with lads who had got academy offers for Leinster,” Prendergast said in an earlier interview. “I was very jealous but look, I wouldn’t change my journey now for anything.”

The Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney on Saturday gives both Prendergast and O’Toole the platform to show how far determination and a timely second chance can carry a player.