His bullet-like pass, ultra competitive nature and telepathic understanding with Ronan O'Gara have helped PETER STRINGER become an indispensable member of the Ireland squad since his debut against Scotland in February 2000.

The 2006 Heineken Cup winner is one of the most recognisable players in world rugby and has played over 100 times for his province Munster, famously scoring a try in last year's Heineken Cup final win over Biarritz.

Educated at Presentation Brothers College Cork and University College Cork, the diminutive scrum half scored his first Test try for Ireland against Japan in November 2000, and has followed that with efforts against Italy (2003 and 2004), Scotland (2004), the USA (2004) and Wales (2006).

Incredibly, Stringer only missed his first international game due to injury this year when a fractured hand kept him out of the Six Nations match against France. He has won his 76 caps in Ireland's last 85 Test matches - he was rested for the games against the USA (2000), Fiji (2002), Tonga, Samoa and Italy (all in 2003) and Argentina (2) and Scotland (all 2007).

Ireland's most-capped scrum half, he has so far made 49 Test starts with his school-mate O'Gara as his half-back partner. The Corkman is currently second to Malcolm O'Kelly on the list of Ireland's most-capped players. Stringer was a pivotal member of the Irish team for the Triple Crown wins in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and has played in three Heineken Cup finals with Munster.