He is the only player to have featured in all 18 matches so far this season for Connacht.

But had he followed his chosen path he might now be playing rugby league for Australia.

However, the 24-year with Fermanagh blood in him has always seemed to make the right call.

He was born in Canberra but while he went to the alma mater of George Gregan and Matt Giteau, he preferred league to union.

When he was 16 he was told to chose one or the other and ditched the 13-a-side game in the hope of carving a career in union.

However, while he made the Australian schools team in 2009 the expected call into the Brumbies academy never materialised and he began to look further afield.

Ireland’s call was strongest. His mother’s family is Ferris from Fermanagh and he grew up well aware of his heritage so a move to Ireland and a trial with the U-20s coincided perfectly.

Initially, he had a brief stint with Ulster before current Irish U-20 coach Nigel Carolan brought him into the Connacht academy which he manages.

Bealham, who joined Corinthians after moving to Galway, was capped at U-20 level for Ireland in 2011 and made his Connacht debut three seasons ago.

Since then he has made 44 appearances for Connacht, but has started just eight of them.

He started out as a loosehead but a decision last season to switch to tighthead when Nathan White was injured is now paying a huge dividend.

He adjusted to the new demands superbly and his versatility has given coach Pat Lam huge options.

Bealham’s displays last season saw him make his debut for Emerging Ireland in the Tbilisi Cup and the decision by Schmidt to draft him in for Moore leaves the former Aussie rugby league prospect on the cusp of an Irish cap.

Not bad going for a lad who always seems to make the right call.