Tadhg Furlong’s selection for the upcoming Lions tour has earned him his place among the all-time greats of Irish rugby Pic: Inpho/James Crombie.

FORMER NEW Ross Rugby club player, Tadhg Furlong, will be among the 41-member British and Irish Lions who will tour New Zealand in the summer.

The Horeswood man’s amazing rise to the pinnacle of his chosen sport has been nothing short of meteoric and when Warren Gatland announced the Lions line-up on Wednesday the selection of Furlong was the culmination of an upward career spiral that has seen him go from being a rising star and extremely important member of New Ross Rugby Club, to becoming a veritable superstar of the game through his role in the Irish senior squad.

Along the way he has also become intrinsic to the ongoing development of the Leinster team.

He was also part of the Irish team that recorded the historic recent victory over the All-Blacks in Chicago.

Speaking about his Lions selection he said he was in the canteen with his Leinster teammates while on a break in training when the announcement was made.

“At the time there was a lot of banter and cheering from the other lads so to be honest I didn’t really have time to take it in there and then,” he said.

“I suppose you’re just so relieved that your name has been called out and you get time to process it afterwards.”

However, he was quick to acknowledge what a privilege it is to be selected: “It’s just a huge honour for me and my family and also for New Ross Rugby Club.”

(For the full interview with Tadhg Furlong see this week’s print edition of The Echo newspaper out now)