**Michael Lowry propelled himself into Ireland's squad for the 2022 Guinness Six Nations with a string of scintillating performances for Ulster.** Alongside Connacht wing Mack Hansen, he is one of only two uncapped players included in Andy Farrell's 37-man group for the championship. The diminutive 23-year-old - this week nominated for the EPCR European Player of the Year award - has excelled at full-back for his province but still has long-term designs on wearing the number 10 jersey. Lowry's journey to becoming one of the hottest properties in the United Rugby Championship was partly fuelled by a desire to prove the doubters wrong. Measuring just 5ft 7in, he was regularly written off due to his height and perceived lack of strength during his teenage years in Belfast, where he was born in August 1998.
