Dan Sheehan knows that only a handful of the lads he played rugby with in school are still playing now.
The 23-year-old's love of the game runs deep, however, and he confides that whether he was lining out for Lansdowne this weekend or, as he is doing, in a Champions Cup semi-final for Leinster, his sense of anticipation would be the same.
“I’d say in my year in school, there are probably only four or five still playing rugby. That’s something that’s probably surprised me a bit," said Sheehan.
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"I think that’s something about rugby that might need to be looked at – how do we get more people playing? – because the bubble is quite small.
"I’m fully aware that I’m in the centre of the bubble and everyone I talk to revolves around rugby but it is still quite a small bubble and something we need to do is to grow the sport."
The explosive Leinster and Ireland hooker has enjoyed a meteoric rise, his spectacular burst of pace reminiscent of Seán Cronin, his physicality more akin to South Africa's Malcolm Marx.
They were the two players he looked up to when he was younger.
Now first choice for club and country, Sheehan puts his quick-fire success - he is already a Grand Slam winner with Ireland, and played a central part in the tour win in New Zealand - down to a growth in confidence.
“I don’t really reflect on it too much, I just enjoy playing rugby," he said.
“I’m feeling brilliant. I can’t complain about playing too many minutes - I want to get as many minutes as I can. I don’t see a problem playing too many minutes.
"If I wasn’t here I would be playing for Lansdowne down the road and I would have the same sort of mindset, looking to the next game, because I just enjoy playing rugby.
"Obviously you want to be playing at the highest standard and I’ve been driving myself to get there and believing in myself to get there.
“I think in the last few years my confidence in my own game and how I can grow has been the main thing that has got me to the top level.
"My parents would probably say that not much fazes me or that I look disinterested in a lot of things but I just don’t get too riled up about big events.
"It’s an important thing to have in a position like hooker. You get a lot of big moments where you have to execute and can’t let the moment get to your head so that’s been a big point for me as well.
"Confidence is something I’ve slowly developed through experience. Probably as a kid, I was a bit more reserved and let other people do things, let things happen in front of me and go with the wind.
“But in the last few years when you realise your potential and stuff you’re the first person in the door and putting your best foot forward. My confidence has grown massively in the last few years.
“The coaches, the whole way through Leinster, have been brilliant. You’re constantly getting feedback and it’s honest feedback, it’s not just throwing you crap.
“All of my coaches have told me honestly where they think I am and where I can get to. I think the AIL has had a big impact as well, in terms of players developing. It has been huge."
Sheehan got capped by Ireland before he played in the Champions Cup - and now has that Grand Slam achievement bagged before winning any silverware with Leinster.
“It’s strange because everyone talks about the successes of Leinster and Champions Cup wise, it was my first year playing last year," he said.
"There was that experience of La Rochelle last year and then losing to the Bulls in the semi-finals of the URC so I haven’t lifted a trophy in the jersey and that’s something that’s always been at the back of my mind, making sure that I get that opportunity because that’s the end goal.
"As a kid you always want to be lifting trophies.
"A lot of people talk about the four stars we have but it’s a new group and there are a lot of lads who haven’t experienced a Champions Cup win.
"So there are a lot of young lads who are really excited about the potential to win on the weekend and then go on and have a proper crack at a trophy but you can’t get ahead of yourself.
"It’s all about Toulouse this week and how we can come away with the win."
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