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| Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 2 December Kick-off: 17:15 GMT |
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Ulster prop Tom O’Toole achieved his childhood dream as he pulled on the green jersey at the rugby World Cup in France but like all great athletes his ambitions extend still further.
The then 24-year-old played 30 minutes as a replacement in Ireland’s 82-8 thumping of Romania in September.
Fast-forward to November, now 25, O’Toole has set his sights on leadership and the next World Cup.
“I’m so proud of the last few years but I want more,” O’Toole told BBC Sport.
“For me, wanting more, you have to be a bit selfish. To play for Ulster, to be injury-free and to play as much as I can here is hugely important but then also internationally those ambitions are always going to be there.
“You’re happy when you get to a certain level and what you have achieved but you always want more.
“That’s what keeps guys in the game, that’s what keeps it competitive, that’s what keeps it such a good game.”
O’Toole’s Ulster debut in 2018
Since making his debut for Ulster as a sprightly teenager in 2018 against Edinburgh, O’Toole has tallied up 80 appearances for the province, earning 12 international caps along the way, an impressive feat for an international prop in the company of Tadhg Furlong, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham and Andrew Porter.
In 2021, he made his senior international debut in a 71-10 victory over the United States and his caps include an appearance during Ireland’s historic tour triumph over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2022 and all five games off the bench during this year’s Grand Slam-winning campaign.
His sense of Ulster pride has been ever-present, joining the academy straight from school and shining from the off in collecting academy player of the year and young player of the year accolades at the Ulster Rugby awards.
However, following the eye-opening experience of a World Cup, O’Toole has now set his sights on developing into a leader as he enters a more senior role within the squad.
“I think coming back into the group [after the World Cup] and especially for a lot of the guys who have left last year and that transition, I don’t know, as soon as I turned 25 I just knew I was out of the younger age bracket.
“With how many young guys we have coming through from the academy it definitely feels like I am in-between stages where I’m not a senior yet in the likes of the other guys that have more experience and they can mentally lead a bit better. But definitely, I’m not a young guy anymore which is a nice stage in my career to be in now.
“Everybody has ambitions in their career and to be able to put on the green jersey and being in that environment for the last few years has given me experience that has allowed me to work with the best guys not just in the country but some of the best players around the world.
“To have that exposure, it does a lot for my game personally. How to kind of be an experienced player and be more of a leader within the group but then naturally with age I think you get to that point in your career.
“Being part of that special group [with Ireland], you’re just enjoying what you are doing every day.
“It drives your game on really well and it makes you enjoy what you do and I think when you are doing that and the standards that you bring to your work every day, if you are enjoying that then you will hopefully improve.”
Future goals
Following his dream World Cup appearance, O’Toole kept his rugby spark alive, returning to club action just two weeks after Ireland’s quarter-final exit. However, the Ulster forward has since been absent for a month with a groin injury.
Following surgery and a spell of recovery, the Ulster prop is fit again and already eyeing his next international adventure.
“You look back at it now and that time has passed. Now it’s onto the next thing which is playing with Ulster and then the Six Nations coming up.
“That’s the next goal but looking back on that time in France I think it was just enjoyment. Obviously, the way it ended was not what we had hoped for but enjoying those moments because they are really, really special and something you will remember for the rest of your career.
“Getting that exposure against Romania, that was a dream come true playing in a World Cup and how proud my family were and how proud I was to be able to achieve that and be a part of such a special group but now looking forward the next goal is to be involved in that next World Cup.
“You’ve got to keep growing your game, developing and bringing it back to your basics and fundamentals and not getting away from that and too ahead of yourself. ,
“That is hugely important for my mindset, is to bring it right back and right down and keep working at your craft.”
