RUGBY NEWS:CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, as much as playing positions, have begun to shape how Leinster and Irish players now see themselves in the modern game. And the coaches are encouraging it.

Kevin McLaughlin, who has started to play in the secondrow for Leinster, having come into the squad as a backrower, has had to learn the new tricks of scrumming down, while David Kearney must now look at versatility as a means of keeping in the eye line of Leinster coach Joe Schmidt.

Kearney has scored four tries in his last three outings so is very much in the thinking of the coach. But he quickly buries any suggestions he is an out-and-out winger.

The job of his injured older brother, Rob, is also in his sights. Fullback or wing, which is where Rob spent a few seasons before going to 15, Kearney junior will take either.

“I’m confident at both,” he says. “I was delighted to get a go at full-back for the Wolfhounds. I’m happy playing both, so I suppose whatever jersey I can get my hands on.

“Versatility is obviously a key thing to have. Fullback and wing aren’t that dissimilar, and then obviously playing 13 against Aironi, which was good as well.”

Kearney modelled himself on Shane Horgan when he was at school, a winger who has been known to also play in the centre. But the key element for the players, especially the younger rump of the squad who have been keeping the Leinster ship afloat while the senior figures are on international duty, has been pitch time.

Kearney is in little doubt why he has been hitting good form.

“I suppose it’s just been getting game time,” he says. “And I’m playing with confidence and a bit of belief, which is always good. This time of year, when the internationals are away, it’s a good opportunity to get some game-time so I’ve been delighted to get that.

“Joe always encourages us to throw the ball and have a go. If you’re to have a go, there’s always a responsibility to hold onto the ball but as far as the back three are concerned, he always tells us to have a go, to counter-attack. Obviously if he’s putting confidence in you, it rubs off; gives you a bit of confidence.”

For McLaughlin, the lineouts and scrums have involved a different skill set and more adjustment.

But his move, like Kearney’s willingness to change around, is as much about thriving in a squad system as it is preference.

Fergus McFadden, nominally a centre, recently earned his first caps on the Irish wing as a means to an end.

“Yeah there’s definitely an element of that coming down from the coaches, adding different skills to your arsenal and being able to be mixed around,” says McLaughlin, who is coming back after injury.

“If you’re limited to one position it’s very hard to break into this team. So the more positions you can play the better and it’s better for the coach as well. But I think six to secondrow is a reasonably serious swap. It should be anyway for a lot of players.

“I played a bit of secondrow when I was younger and found the scrummaging came quite naturally but yeah there is a few technical elements, getting my body position right.

“I’m definitely not 100 per cent there but I reckon that wouldn’t be the hardest part of playing secondrow. I’ve definitely been told to keep all the skills there, be ready to slip in there any time.”

A new motto then – any time, any place, anywhere.