Campbell's fast feet remain firmly on the ground

The phone call came at 9 p.m. on Monday night. Kieron Campbell could not digest the news. "I was shocked, stunned. It still hasn't sunk in." There isn't a trace of affectation in his reaction to selection in the 44-man Irish squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship and A campaigns.

"I hadn't checked the squad because I had no reason to do so. It wasn't until Adrian Flavin phoned me on Monday night that I learned of my inclusion. I am absolutely thrilled. It's a huge honour but I have no misconceptions about my new-found standing. I expect to be playing for the Under-21s, form permitting, this season.

"I am looking forward to the two-day session," he says. "I suppose that it is an opportunity to impress but I don't expect anything from it. It should give all the young players great confidence because it shows that you can win recognition."

Campbell was named as one of four scrum-halves - Peter Stringer, Tom Tierney and Brian O'Meara the others - in the squad, reward for a series of outstanding performances for Ireland at the SANZAR Under-21 international championship in Argentina last summer.

In Argentina the 20-year-old London Irish player enhanced his reputation, producing fine displays against France and Argentina. But it was his performance against New Zealand that best encapsulated his qualities. In a tough, bruising encounter, he never shirked the physical confrontations while conjuring a number of searing breaks. The legacy of the match was concussion, the second time in as many games that he had retired prematurely with a head injury, and he was forced to return to London early.

Injury had largely precluded Campbell from taking part in the Six Nations at Under-21 level, so in taking him to Argentina the underage selectors recognised a couple of first team displays for his club and a reputation earned in Ireland's FIRA Under-19 World Cup triumph in France in 1998. Current Munster and Ireland A coach Declan Kidney, who masterminded the Toulouse triumph, has no doubt about Campbell's ability. "He'll be a great addition to the Irish squad," Kidney says. "He might take a year or so to settle but he is still under 21.

"We had two very good scrum-halves in that Under-19 squad, the other was David Mescal. Kieron is an excellent all-round player. His first and foremost quality is his honesty as a player. He's very quick, a good passer, can do all the basics but it is his work-rate around the edges, an important trait for an Irish scrum-half, that is so impressive.

"In time to come he will put the others under serious pressure."

Campbell, however, almost missed out on the World Cup victory. "I was about to be selected for the England Colts. They had spoken to me but I wanted to play for Ireland. My father's Irish, from Donegal, my mother's Sri Lankan so I had no dilemma with regard to preference.

"I spoke to Willie Anderson, who helped push me into the reckoning in an Irish context and I couldn't be more grateful."

Campbell, who has been with the London Irish club since he was six, attends Brunel University three days a week, studying history and sports science. This season has seen him graduate to London Irish's first team on a regular basis, albeit on the left wing.

"To be honest, we have no backs left, outside of those playing that aren't injured. Our two centres are both outside centres. I am only there (on the wing) to act as stopgap cover." His modesty prevents him from mentioning that he started the season in that position, recognition of both his great pace and footballing ability.

Campbell continued: "I must confess that it is nice to get away from playing scrum-half for a while simply because it helps me develop my footballing skills, teaches me to read the game a little better. It's invaluable experience but I want to return to scrum-half. "That is my target at present, to try and work my way in at scrum-half. I have learned so much from Kevin Putt and if I have improved then it is with his guidance."

He lists his qualities as a "dedicated, strong character who is quite relaxed," while conceding that he wants "to improve his service". "Although I am ambitious, I presume that after these training days I will go back to the Under-21s. I don't know if I am quite ready for the higher level but I suppose I won't know until I try it. I'll do my best and let others judge."