HIS summer holiday plans have had to be put on hold, but Niall Ronan certainly isn't complaining after he was drafted into the Ireland squad for this month's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. An injury to Leinster's Kevin McLaughlin has handed Ronan this 11th-hour opportunity, and a year almost to the day since he won his first and only two international caps against Canada and the USA, the 27-year-old forward's dreams of facing two of the most respected nations in world rugby could now become reality.

Speaking from Ireland's base in Limerick on Monday evening, the Piltown, Drogheda, native was just itching to get out on the field and show what he can do.

'It's great to be in the squad,' he reflected. 'I wasn't expecting it, but there were a few injuries and I'm delighted to take the chance that's come my way.

'I was actually training with them last week because the Leinster players were [away] in the Magners League final. I was asked to do a session in Carton House.

'Then I got a call on Sunday to say I'm going on tour.'

But before flying out to New Zealand at the weekend, Ronan has a 'cup final' of sorts as he's hoping to see some action in the traditional tour warm-up game against Barbarians at Thomond Park this Friday.

' You are playing against some of the best players in the world, and it will be a chance to show the coach what I can do before we go on tour.

'A lot of the guys are more experienced than me, but if I play well then there's a chance I'll see some action [in Australia or New Zealand].'

Last summer's tour to Canada and the USA was a low-key affair as most of our top players were away with the British and Irish Lions, and only for their absence, the Munster flanker wouldn't have got his chance.

But the circumstances are very different this time. Barring a couple of injuries, the stars are all available and Ronan is in the squad of 33 on merit alongside the established names such as O'Driscoll, O'Gara, Bowe, Kearney, Heaslip and of course Bellewstown's Shane Horgan.

That's not to say that Ronan is over-awed by his surroundings. How could he be, with a Heineken Cup winner's medal tucked away at home!

'I'm playing with the best in the country and it's an honour to be involved with them, but I know the set-up because I was involved with Ireland last year on tour and I was in for a few other training sessions as well.

'I know a lot of the staff and I've played with and against a lot of the players before.'

Ronan is determined to make his mark, just as he did when Munster did battle with the New Zealand Maoris in the match to mark the reopening of Thomond Park in 2008, and maybe play himself into contention for next winter's Six Nations.

'I'm looking just to get experience from being involved in the team, and if I get my chance in the team, take it,' he summed up in simple terms.

'You are playing against the highest quality opposition and learn from playing in those games, and it's all about testing yourself against the best.

'I had a few things lined up for the summer but nothing booked just in case, so I didn't lose any money!

'That's the nature of the job, though. I'll get four weeks off at the end of the tour and I can go on holidays next year.'

-Ireland face New Zealand in New Plymouth on Saturday week, New Zealand Maoris in Rotorua on June 18th and their 2011 Rugby World Cup pool opponents Australia in Brisbane on the 26th.

- Marcus CAVAROLI