SAM PRENDERGAST remained coy on his chances of making the Lions after winning an inaugural Six Nations award.
The Ireland out-half, 22, was named the first-ever BKT Rising Players Award following the 22-17 win over Italy on Saturday.
Prendergast beat out the likes of France second row Mickael Guillard, Scotland centre Tom Jordan, and Wales back Blair Murray.
The gong was designed to recognise players “who have made significant contributions to their team”.
Prendergast was selected as the award winner following a vote by representatives from the host broadcast partners after last week’s defeat to France.
And the Kildare-native said: “It has been a mixed bag. I think everybody in the group would say the same over the tournament.
“We have had some unbelievable highs, winning the Triple Crown and we started off so well with some great wins.
“But last week was a tough experience and we had to get over that quickly to put in a performance this week.
“It maybe wasn’t our best today but we did manage to get over the line against a very tough side.
“Happy but loads of learnings and loads of things I can take forward.”
The 2025 Six Nations came after a breakthrough 2024 for the 22-year-old, having made his Ireland senior debut against Fiji back in November.
He started all but one of Ireland’s games in the Championship, with his only cameo off the bench being in Rome on Saturday as Jack Crowley was picked to start.
He kicked 44 points in the green jersey and registered two try assists in the win over Wales that clinched a 14th Triple Crown.
Prendergast has been the subject of intense debate when it comes to the No10 jersey, with him and Munster out-half Crowley contending to be Johnny Sexton‘s permanent successor.
However, he insisted that he is not concerned with outside noise and is only concerned with what he does on the field.
He said: “I think I have a lot of good people around me, whether that is in the squad or back at home.
“There is a lot of good people to get advice and bounce ideas off.
“I just try to focus on the task at hand and keep trying to get better and try block all that out because I can’t control any of that.”
Prendergast will return to Leinster for the remainder of the season after impressing under Simon Easterby.
Easterby was in interim charge for the Six Nations as Andy Farrell is on secondment to take over the British & Irish Lions for the summer tour of Australia.
But asked about his own chances of getting picked, Prendergast said his focus is on celebrating the retiring trio of Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy, and Conor Murray.
He said: “I don’t know about that, to be honest.
“I am just gong to enjoy a few days off and get back in.
“I am looking forward to the rest of the season with Leinster, looking forward to signing off on three absolute greats of Irish rugby and just get around them and spend the night with them.”
