They were simpler times.
Paul Dean was the Ireland out-half for the opening two games of the Five Nations in 1986 but injury against Wales meant coach Mick Doyle needed a replacement.
Two players, the uncapped Ralph Keyes, 24, and Tony Ward, holder of 17 caps, then 32, were in the mix.
And it was a stand-out performance for Cork Con prior to the trip to Twickenham, a 25-20 loss, that earned Keyes his first cap.
"Everyone played with their clubs and you graduated to the inter-pro side," Keyes tells RTÉ Sport.
"Thereafter you played in the domestic inter-pro competition and the Irish trial, which could have been the biggest game in many years because you could have one or two good inter-pro matches or a poor one but if you had a good Irish trial you could get in.