A lot of rugby water has flowed under the bridge since then for the son of Billy and Tara Gibson-Park who will line up in the No.9 jersey this weekend for Ireland  in a do-or-die Rugby World Cup quarterfinal blockbuster against New Zealand.

Gibson-Park has tasted success against his home nation, including last year’s historic test series win for the Irish in New Zealand.

Now he is aiming to help the world No.1-ranked Emerald Isles reach their first-ever RWC semifinal.

Gibson-Park was the man of the match in Ireland’s 36-14 rout of Scotland in their final pool game, and his side go into Sunday’s 8am (NZ time) clash as favourites, having won 17 test matches on the trot.