Gordon D'Arcy loitered without intent, chatting with a few school friends, enjoying a day off but as a boarder still ensconced in the grounds of Clongowes Wood College. The arrival of the deputy headmaster, the late Vinny Murray, caused a few of his fellow sixth years to conceal cigarettes. D'Arcy was unconcerned until Murray summoned him to the office.
Desperately racking his brains and more than a little flustered, D'Arcy could think of no reason for the sudden invitation. On arrival, Murray informed him that the Ireland coach, Warren Gatland, had invited the young player to tour South Africa with the senior national side. It didn't register initially as D'Arcy explains: "I just replied yes okay, but seriously what have I done?
"Vinny Murray flicked a switch on his speakerphone and I believe I had a twominute conversation with Warren. When it finished, Vinny said that he had spoken to my Dad and they both felt that I should concentrate on my Leaving Certificate and should therefore turn down the invitation. I was stunned and think I just said yeah. "I walked back out to my friends and told them that I had just been selected to tour South Africa with Ireland. They just laughed and told me to shut the f*** up. It wasn't until the story broke two days later in the papers that they finally believed me."
It represented a staggering achievement for a schoolboy who had just turned 18 years of age, especially in the professional era. Two years on and that elation has been tarnished by disappointment, injury and criticism. Today he plays on the left wing for Leinster against Northampton at Franklin's Gardens. Older and wiser, he is disarmingly honest and candid about dealing with the mantle of "boy wonder".
"In 1998, I won a schools' senior cup medal, in May I was invited to tour South Africa, in July I was asked to train with Leinster and in the last week in August I won my first senior cap for the province against Edinburgh Reivers. I was so eager to please initially.
"I wanted to play rugby at the highest level that I could at the time. But what I actually needed was someone to say, hang on here, your body isn't ready for this. I got on a rollercoaster and fell off. When I moved from schoolboy rugby to the All-Ireland League, I didn't encounter too many problems, but my first interprovincial was a shock.
"In the first two games I crossed for two tries and that in itself merely exacerbated the hype. The pressure became incredibly intense and I wasn't able to handle it. This is quite apart from the fact that my body just wasn't able to meet the demands. Two months out of school and I was a full-time rugby player. "The central part of my body, my back and hamstrings could not cope. I was fit, but there is a big difference between playing amongst your age group and taking on grown men with three of four years professional training behind them. I took a crazy route from A internationals to senior to under-21 internationals.
"On reflection, I would do things differently. Guys like Brian O'Driscoll and Bob Casey spent a few years at college, enjoying themselves and at the same time benefiting from a measured progression physically. I missed out on that. In June I was a schoolboy, in August I was a professional rugby player."
But like any other young sportsman tantalised by the fast track to success he was prepared to take the risks. His bravery would be his undoing. Having played A internationals against France and Wales at the beginning of 1999 disaster struck. D'Arcy suffered back and hamstring damage. The next match he played was two weeks into September of that year.
"It was a nightmare - nine months out and six months spent rehabilitating." He received a huge boost when he was called into the Irish Squad for the 1999 World Cup, winning his first cap.
"I was on a high after the World Cup but when playing against Munster, Keith Wood stepped inside me on his way to scoring a try. It didn't matter that he had gone through two other tackles. I was told that I could win games, but also lose games and I was dropped. My confidence was shattered."
Salvation came in the form of the Six Nations under-21 championship of this year. "It allowed me to rebuild my career. In the first match I was a little tentative but after that, running the old lines, the freedom to express yourself, it was such a release.
"Playing with Jeremy (Staunton) and Paddy (Wallace) was just a joy. It was like, we should really kick this but, nah, let's run it." Rugby was fun again and D'Arcy revelled. He enjoyed a decent All-Ireland League campaign with Lansdowne and knuckled down to work on his shortcomings. His critics cited his kicking and defence as flawed.
Dave Alred has helped him with the former, while Leinster assistant coach Alan Gaffney has played a central part in allowing him to convert, albeit temporarily, from a full back to a wing. The demands of the two positions are hugely different, but D'Arcy now feels comfortable with his new role. He has matured considerably from the day when he was tortured by Christophe Dominici: full back is still his first love, but playing for Leinster, being on the pitch is his priority.
It has been a turbulent two years for the 20-year-old. The support of his family, in particular father John, and Leinster coaches Matt Williams and Gaffney has helped him survive. He is now a player of great ability superseding the great potential tag.
