It's fair to say that playing at a World Cup is the highest stage in the sport. Playing in a World Cup for your country is the dream of children everywhere. Which is probably why it means so much to Robbie Henshaw that he can finally make his World Cup debut on Sunday against Italy.
It's well overdue for Henshaw, who has finally shaken off a hamstring issue to take his place in the line-up. Henshaw is the youngest player in the Irish squad, and he took time out from preparing for his debut to pay tribute to his fallen friend:
The image shows a bracelet with the name Karl Ashe printed on it. Karl Ashe was a student in Marist College Athlone with Henshaw. The pair played on the school's Junior Cup team together, losing in the Connacht Junior Cup final to Sligo Grammar.
Ashe died suddenly aged 16 back in 2009, and it's clear that Henshaw hasn't forgotten him.
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
