Jamie Osborne’s potential has been flagged from a long way out.

Even as he was making his way through the underage ranks at Naas, those with an eye for talent knew they had a special player on their hands.

Funnily enough, similar things are now also being said about Osborne’s 19-year-old brother Andrew, who is in the Leinster sub-academy, with another two young brothers coming behind them as well.

Picture Credit - Brendan Moran Sportsfile

“Andrew trained with us there a few weeks ago but injured his finger,” Leo Cullen revealed. “He looks like a very good prospect. The younger ones are still a bit off, so I’m not sure if I’ll be around for the youngest one, I think he’s only six! But you never know.

“I look forward to the whole gang of them coming through!”

Clearly, whatever they are feeding the Osborne boys at home is paying off, and after Jamie produced his latest in a long list of excellent performances during Leinster’s 49-14 win over Gloucester, he has put himself right in contention to be included in Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

It was perhaps telling that two of Andy Farrell’s assistants – attack coach Mike Catt and defence coach Simon Easterby – were at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon for Leinster’s 35-point win.

Although the duo were keeping a watchful eye over many of Ireland’s key men, it was Osborne who really stood out with an all-action, try-scoring, man-of-the-match display.

At 21, he is still very much learning the ropes, and while Farrell has a fairly settled group of centres, Osborne’s form, and indeed his rapidly growing reputation, means that he could force his way into the equation for Thursday morning’s squad announcement.

His versatility in that he can play in midfield and across the back-three is such that Farrell may well look to cap him during the Six Nations with a view to making the World Cup squad later this year. Cullen is in no doubt that the 21-year-old is knocking on the door.

Jamie Osborne’s potential has been flagged from a long way out.

Even as he was making his way through the underage ranks at Naas, those with an eye for talent knew they had a special player on their hands.

Funnily enough, similar things are now also being said about Osborne’s 19-year-old brother Andrew, who is in the Leinster sub-academy, with another two young brothers coming behind them as well.

“Andrew trained with us there a few weeks ago but injured his finger,” Leo Cullen revealed. “He looks like a very good prospect. The younger ones are still a bit off, so I’m not sure if I’ll be around for the youngest one, I think he’s only six! But you never know.

“I look forward to the whole gang of them coming through!”

Clearly, whatever they are feeding the Osborne boys at home is paying off, and after Jamie produced his latest in a long list of excellent performances during Leinster’s 49-14 win over Gloucester, he has put himself right in contention to be included in Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

It was perhaps telling that two of Andy Farrell’s assistants – attack coach Mike Catt and defence coach Simon Easterby – were at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon for Leinster’s 35-point win.

Although the duo were keeping a watchful eye over many of Ireland’s key men, it was Osborne who really stood out with an all-action, try-scoring, man-of-the-match display.

At 21, he is still very much learning the ropes, and while Farrell has a fairly settled group of centres, Osborne’s form, and indeed his rapidly growing reputation, means that he could force his way into the equation for Thursday morning’s squad announcement.

His versatility in that he can play in midfield and across the back-three is such that Farrell may well look to cap him during the Six Nations with a view to making the World Cup squad later this year.

“He’s definitely putting his hand up, which is fantastic to see,” the Leinster head coach acknowledged.

“He gives us that versatility. Even when Jamie came through at first, he played quite a bit at ‘13’ and underage-wise, he played more at ‘15’.

In terms of his skill-set, he is quite suited to play at ‘12’ as well, so a bit of versatility is great. You see the relationship he has with Garry (Ringrose), good talking between the two of them; so, yeah, we are pleased with Jamie.”

Osborne has already spent time in Ireland camp as a development player for the 2021 November internationals, while he was in again last autumn as part of the Ireland ‘A’ side who lost to the All Blacks XV.

His time is fast approaching and it’s now a case of when, not if, he wins his first cap.

“It would be great to be involved, but we have a big game against Racing, so we will have to prepare fully for that,” Osborne said, keen to downplay what is a big week in his young career.

Whether it was in attack or defence, Osborne looked assured in most things he did at the weekend and with his cannon of a left boot also used to good effect, the onlooking Ireland coaches were surely impressed by what they saw.

Stuart Lancaster has already compared Osborne to a young Robbie Henshaw, as he looks to build on his previous time in Ireland camp.

“It was a good experience,” Osborne added. “Obviously, we were building to play the New Zealand team on the Friday, while the Test team was building to play South Africa.

“It was a really good experience, you see how the week plays out. Obviously, the result on our end was disappointing, but hopefully I can get back in there again.

“I’m loving it. I think the more you play, the more you grow into it and the more experience you get. It’s just unbelievable, especially playing with the likes of Ross (Byrne), Garry (Ringrose), Hugo (Keenan), Jimmy (O’Brien), Jordo (Larmour). They make life much easier.”

Osborne is proud of his Naas roots and having come through the clubs’ system has reminded everyone that you don’t have to attend one of Dublin’s ‘big’ rugby schools to successfully make it into the Leinster set-up.

“Really proud, it’s a great club,” Osborne said. “There’s a lot of Leinster players who have played minis and stuff in Naas before maybe moving onto Newbridge or other schools, but I’m really proud to have played all the way up and come through the clubs’ pathway.

“Probably around Irish 18s, you’d notice there is a bit of a difference in terms of systems and set-piece plays, and stuff like that. But it was a small enough adjustment period. By Leinster 19s, when we were all together, I think everyone is able to get on the same level.”

As for what the future holds in terms of what position Osborne will end up playing long-term, he added: “I think certain positions kinda suit certain attributes, like at full-back, I probably get to use my boot a bit more. Then I’m obviously enjoying playing in the centre. It’s good to have the versatility, but we’ll see where I end up in a few years.

“It’s tough to know now really. I like playing every week wherever they need me. Probably centre long-term, but it’s tough. I wouldn’t like to close off the other positions.

“I know every week I probably have to be able to cover each position, so I’m well aware of different plays and stuff like that – all the lads are.”

A diligent worker on and off the pitch, Osborne’s star is on the rise. An Ireland debut beckons.

Article written by Cian Tracey in Irish Independent on Monday the 16th January 2023. Photo Credits - Sportsfile.