It may only be five days since Santa came to town, but the Guinness PRO14 has already been busy in the Twixmas period.

Six derby-day crackers signed the competition off from 2019 with a bang as bragging rights were dealt – for now.

A round that saw a string of outstanding individual displays, here is a look at how six stars made an early bid to be at the top of next year’s nice list.

Hame the hat-trick hero

It is not every day that you score a hat-trick as a hooker; it is not every year that you do so when your side is down to 14 men.

But that is exactly what Hame Faiva can boast after his treble helped Benetton Rugby to a 36-25 victory over Zebre with his side having played for over an hour a man light.

He grabbed his first score after just one minute – when admittedly they were still playing with a full XV – but scuttled over for a second minutes after Juan Ignacio Brex’s red card and added a deft third after the break to cap a vital outing.

Schoeman digs in

Darcy Graham may have stolen the headlines as Edinburgh levelled things up in this season’s 1872 Cup with a thrilling 29-19 victory over Glasgow Warriors at BT Murrayfield, but it was a platform built on Pierre Schoeman’s grit.

The bustling loosehead once again underlined his importance to Richard Cockerill’s side with a 16-tackle performance that helped to constantly break up Warriors momentum.

🍻 thank you to all the @EdinburghRugby family and fans for the support , we love you guys , Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 and a blessed Happy New Year 🏉 pic.twitter.com/s4KFljoIyH
— Pierre Schoeman (@pierraSCHOEMIES) December 29, 2019

While the highlights reel will show Graham’s two eye-catching tries, the South African will take the plaudits for once again delivering on the unfashionable side of things.

Reidy tackles the issue

Ulster ran in five tries and conceded none in an all-star Inter-Pro defeat of Connacht, but – despite not getting on the scoresheet himself – it was flanker Sean Reidy who shone for the hosts.

He made 24 tackles to stunt the visitors, increasing his lead at the summit of the overall season standings as he proved a constant thorn in Connacht’s side.

Haring around at the breakdown, it was Reidy who played the biggest part in keeping the men in green quiet.

O’Brien conducts business

There were braces for Steff Evans and Ryan Conbeer as Scarlets shut out Ospreys in spectacular style on Boxing Day, but it was Angus O’Brien who was at the heart of everything good for Brad Mooar’s outfit.

He weaved it all together from fly-half, playing crucial parts in Evans and Conbeer’s first scores – the latter set up by a beautiful cross-field kick.

#ICYMI 🔥 @s4cchwaraeon pic.twitter.com/NMNF8NxKxA
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarletsrugby) href=“https://twitter.com/scarletsrugby/status/1210851984129040384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>December 28, 2019

Having flyers the calibre of those two on either wing certainly helps, but O’Brien made things look easy from the centre of the park.

Doris looks to future

It was going to take something special for Leinster to end Munster’s 21-match unbeaten run at Thomond Park – and that is exactly what young No.8 Caelan Doris provided.

Returning to the team for his first taste of Inter-Pro action, the 21-year-old was daunted neither by the occasion nor his red-hot opposite number Jack O’Donoghue.

He made 12 carries, as many tackles with several key turnovers to boot as Leinster stayed perfect for the Guinness PRO14 season.

Basham brings it against the Blues

It takes a special performance to come up with man-of-the-match honours when coming out on the losing side, but that’s what Taine Basham did as Dragons were toppled by Cardiff Blues.

📺 8⃣ in his last 11 games 🔥@TaineBash07 kept up his incredible scoring form this season with this try against Cardiff Blues yesterday 💪👊#BringYourFire pic.twitter.com/pmA0IraYjD
— Dragons 🏉 (@dragonsrugby) December 27, 2019

He made 12 tackles, scored one try and set up the other as he once again marks himself out as one of the Guiness PRO14’s most exciting prospects.

The 20-year-old also also showed off his devastating abilities with ball in hand, making 61 metres on 10 carries – more than any other Dragon on the day.