"I would love to start" - Ireland's Nick Timoney inspired by Stu McCloskey to get first Test start

McCloskey's Ulster and Ireland teammate Nick Timoney has been left inspired by the midfielder's Test match resurgence, as the back row pushes to get a first Ireland start this Friday against Wales. Timoney revealed how there was a time when he thought he would never wear the green jersey again.

Speaking to the press at the Ireland training camp in Dublin, Timoney said how McCloskey's Six Nations campaign is an inspirational testament to the Ireland team, and the man Timoney backs as "one of the best in the world."

"Could do with his confidence not being as high sometimes when you spend as long with him as I do!" Timoney joked. "Stuart's just showing what we at Ulster have already known for a number of years, which is that he's one of the best players in the world. It’s been the talk of world rugby almost, it feels like. I wouldn't say it's surprising in any way to me. I actually am delighted for him, but he’s certainly happy for himself too."

"I almost even said it to him the other day. There actually is an incredible story there of just perseverance. For me, being so close to him and being in actually quite a similar position in a lot of ways, definitely. But just for anyone really, any professional rugby players, it's a great story.

"I think it's a great reflection on Irish rugby, he's probably never really been a starter consistently until this year. He's 33. There'd probably be a lot of places in the world rugby, where they'd be close-minded enough where the door would be closed at that stage. I think it's actually an incredible story."

Timoney made his Ireland debut against the United States in the Summer of 2021. The back row would only be able to add a further three caps across sporadic involvements, before getting his break back into the squad with two appearances in the 2025 Autumn Nations Series.

Timoney rolled this into 2026 and has since collected a cap in the first three Six Nations matches, including a try-scoring effort from the bench in the opening round defeat to France. The in-form Ulster forward expressed how he felt like he had missed the boat for an Ireland squad return, after not being called upon for the 2025 Six Nations. The back row was proud of himself for not giving up on the dream.

"I wouldn't say [disenchanted] with the system, but there was definitely times where I was be fairly sure I wouldn't be playing for Ireland again. Last year's Six Nations, I didn't get picked in the wider squad, it's when you're 29 and you have like a couple of caps. It's not like you're a complete unknown or anything.

"It's fairly easy to believe that these chances might not come around again. I'd say I was relatively proud of myself for not getting dis-enthused or anything and sticking at it, backing myself, and being able to get back to this point. I'm pretty happy with that, but I wouldn't say it's the system necessarily."

Whilst there is plenty of discussion around whether Timoney will earn his first Ireland start this week, the 30-year-old has only made replacement caps so far for the men in green. Ireland host Wales under the Friday night lights of the Aviva Stadium, with Farrell set to name his match day squad later this afternoon.

Timoney has been a lightning bolt from the bench, upon his three previous caps in the 2026 Six Nations. Ever-present to lift the tempo and bring the energy to a fatiguing side, Timoney revealed the mentality which he brings to every Ireland match, as he lets the occasion settle in upon the international stage.

"I don't do it all that often for Ulster, but just knowing that you only have 20 or 30 minutes and just with how grateful I actually feel to be playing. I've experienced not playing for quite a long time, so really, the forefront of my mind is 'how lucky I am to actually be on the pitch'.

"I just want to get as involved as I possibly can, and get as much out of it as I can. I'm actually not thinking a whole lot of what the tactical things I need to do or what I need. I'm just going on and just being as energetic and as enthusiastic as possible. Hopefully the lads around you feel better for it."

Timoney explained how he has had plenty of messages of support from family and friends, hoping to see him make his next Ireland cap from the starting XV. However, the ever-grounded individual understands how only his head coach Andy Farrell can make that call, as speculation grows for a start against Wales.

"Everyone wants to start and I'd love to start as well. A lot of people have said that to me, 'when are you going to start? ' Because friends and family, they're obviously trying to imply that I've been going well off the bench and stuff. Obviously I would love to start, but I still feel like I'm playing the game.

"If you come on for 30 minutes and tweak them, maybe you'd argue the game wasn't necessarily in the balance of that stage, but that's a pretty important part of things.

"I've always tried to not worry too much about selection." Timoney explained. "The coaches are backing me to be in the squad, and to come on when games are being decided. I'm getting to do what I've always dreamed of doing, I'm not worrying too much about what number I've got in my back."

Despite having three strong replacement caps under his belt for the ongoing Championship, Timoney is happy to keep out of the media spotlight for the most part. The Ulster stalwart leaves that honour to his provincial teammates McCloskey and Robert Baloucoune, with plenty to celebrate back home in Belfast.

"I'm not massively concerned with limelight and stuff. But, I've been happy certainly with how this Six Nations has gone. Infinitely better than any of the other Six Nations that I've been involved in, in that I have actually gotten to play. I feel like I've been actually fairly happy and gotten mostly positive feedback from the coaches.

"It's been great to be good friends of Rob Baloucoune and Stu [McCloskey], and see them show everyone what they can do. That's been an incredible experience as part of it as well. So, I couldn't be happier for them really."

Despite coming away on the losing end of their URC Round 12 clash against the Ospreys, Ulster have been a force to be reckoned with in the current campaign. Currently sat at 6th in the table with a game in hand upon the front-running pack, Ulster's reinvigorated form has seem the formerly overlooked province dutifully rewarded with a number of Ireland training camp call-ups.

Timoney has been joined by the aforementioned duo of McCloskey and Baloucoune, as well as the likes of Cormac Izuchukwu, Jacob Stockdale, Tom O'Toole, Nathan Doak and Bryn Ward from Ulster. Timoney pins this down to an established coaching staff, as Richie Murphy and Mark Sexton have breathed belief and laid out a winning structure for the Belfast side.

"The coaching staff is getting more settled. They've now reassembled that [Ireland] U20s coaching team fully. Mark Sexton's been a big part of that, and Richie’s got everything set up for himself into his second season now. It's finally coming to fruition.

"I think last year we were obviously very poor and it can be a bit of a cycle. But, then once we had that chance of a full season of work under our belt with the coaches and players, that bit of confidence starts to take in. Then some of the younger lads are coming through [which has a] massive impact."

Having trained under Mark Sexton at Ulster, Timoney now finds himself sharing the training pitch with his brother Johnny in the Ireland camp. Timoney added how there is a definite 'Sexton temperament' when it comes a training week, as the brothers have similarities and differences in their approaches.

"We've been calling Johnny [Sexton] 'Mark's brother' for the last few weeks!" Timoney quipped. "Knowing the three Sexton brothers, there is just a temperament that's different to 99.9% of other people. There's rugby knowledge, presumably everyone in rugby can watch the way that Johnny played throughout his career and tried to coach it.

"That's why he [Mark Sexton] coaches, it's a hard thing to do because you have everyone fully believe you, that you're telling the right things and that it means something to do them. I think he does an incredibly convincing job of doing that. It's obviously a bit like your brother was one of the best Irish rugby players of all time so you’ve access to all this amazing experience and knowledge.

"I'm sure they talk about rugby loads, but Mark's his own man. He’s not short on aura or command of a room or any of that stuff. He can get people going in the direction he wants them to. He's pretty impressive with it."

1. Ulster mainstay with big experience: Timoney has made 170+ appearances for Ulster since his senior debut in 2017.