Few would have believed that after University College Cork's win over French university Grenoble last year in the Students' European Cup final, they would be back again to seek a second title in succession.
Win or lose today against Bayonne, the Cork team's achievement illustrates at least a regular flow of talent from schools. In under-age competition, Ireland have more to shout about than most with the UCC side once more reshaping the mould.
That UCC's All-Ireland League form in division two has been wayward so far this season might suggest a shallow pool on the European front but as coach Brian Hyland observes, today's final in south-west France will be the first time the side have had a full squad together since the start of the season.
In tandem, UCC were forced to replace five of the players who appeared in last year's Donnybrook final, including international scrum-half Peter Stringer.
While Stringer's central role in Ireland's win over Scotland last weekend has been eye catching, the holes left by several other quality players have been substantial. Second-row Michael O'Driscoll, an Irish A player, joined prop and Irish Universities captain Aidan McSweeney in moving on while Old Belvedere were quick to sign centre Aidan O'Shea.
Nonetheless UCC are clearly capable of taking one more step, having already beaten some of the strongest of sides in their path thus far, including Loughborough and St Mary's Twickenham.
"There is always a natural turnover in university rugby," says Hyland. "Every year guys are coming and going. The lads coming in this year were on the bench last season, so they will know what is required.
"This is the first time all season we are able to put out a full-strength side."
UCC came out of their group of four in the 28-team competition as the second best side and now face a team whom they know very little about.
Having played Toulouse away in the semi-finals two years ago when they were beaten, UCC do at least understand that the French university sides are likely to be stronger at home than they are if they have to travel. Significantly, student players turn out for their university even through they are attached to professional clubs for the normal season.
In the Toulouse semi-final of 1998, French international and Grand Slam winning full back and winger Xavier Garbajosa pulled on his university kit to help see off UCC. That year the gifted ball carrier was playing full time for the Tolouse club side.
So the question is what to expect. Certainly UCC have the experience of playing regular tough matches as they, unlike their British or European counterparts, are involved in a national league structure and face stronger and more experienced teams week to week.
Moving out of their base in Biarritz today for the short journey to Bayonne, that experience may well come into play. The successful players, who were introduced to the crowd at Lansdowne Road at half-time as Ulster were also making history in the European Cup last season, will know the feeling. Ten players with that in their minds can't be such a bad starting point facing into another European final.
UCC: C Healy (capt); N Kinnealy, P Barry, C O'Sullivan, D Holt; B O'Mahony, H Casey; G Murray, J Flannery, M Ross, J Fitzgerald, F McKenna, M Riordan, J Sheahan, D Lane. Replacements: M Nathan, C McCarthy, J Kealy, S Maddigan, T Olden, G Fuller, F O'Gara.
