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Fitting.

Stuart McCloskey has become the unlikely poster boy of the 2026 Six Nations — and not just among Irish supporters.

After another barnstorming display for Ireland, the Ulster centre has found himself beloved by the French, earning a colourful new sobriquet from supporters across the Channel.

French fans have taken to calling McCloskey the “Frigo Irlandais” — the Irish fridge — a nod to his immovable presence and cool reliability in midfield this championship.

It’s not every day rival fans celebrate an Irishman, but there’s a sense that even Les Bleus’ faithful can see something special in a player who simply does the hard work week in, week out.

For McCloskey, the admiration comes on the back of another strong Six Nations campaign. Ireland’s demolition of England at Twickenham — a 42-21 victory that marked their highest points tally ever at the iconic ground — saw McCloskey once again at the heart of their efforts.

He was one of Ireland’s standout performers on the day, his work both with and without the ball reflecting the gritty resolve that has become his trademark.

“It’s so soon after the game with obviously absolute elation,” McCloskey said in the aftermath of the England win.

“We proved a lot of people wrong. We probably proved to ourselves more importantly what we can do when we get stuff right.”

It’s that blend of understated excellence and physical authority that evidently resonates beyond Ireland’s shores — enough for French supporters to crown him with a nickname that captures both the humour and respect of rugby’s passionate fan culture.

Back home, McCloskey’s influence has not gone unnoticed either. Former Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll was effusive in his praise after his crucial tackle in on Marcus Smith, describing the intervention in near-awed terms and pointing to the centre’s leadership on the field.

Ireland’s campaign has had its bumps — a sobering defeat in Paris and a nervy win against Italy earlier in the tournament tempered expectations — but McCloskey has been a constant. Coaches, teammates, and now even rival fans have come to appreciate the 33-year-old’s blend of strength, skill and rugby intelligence.

As the tournament unfolds, and with bigger tests still to come, the “Frigo Irlandais” tag might just stick — a fitting tribute to a player who keeps the engine room ticking and the opposition guessing.