Tom Court believes the risk he took in pursuing his international career with Ireland is now being rewarded.

Court picked up a rugby ball for the first time as a 24-year-old in 2004 but the Brisbane native, whose hopes of competing in the shot putt for Australia at the Sydney Olympics had been dashed, adapted quickly.

Initially turning to rugby to lose weight, within two years he was playing in the Super 14 for the Queensland Reds.

Realising that he was some way down the pecking order, however, he turned down contract terms with the Brisbane-based outfit and accepted an offer from Ulster instead.

Soon after arriving in 2006 and before even pulling on an Ulster jersey, he was selected by Ireland A for the Churchill Cup, qualifying through a grandfather.

His Test debut came during last year's RBS Six Nations and he will win his 11th cap against Samoa on Saturday, continuing a rise that surprises even himself.

"When I first came to Ireland I wouldn't have rated myself very highly. I'd only been playing for 15 or 16 months," said Court.

"I regret a little bit not coming to the sport earlier, but it couldn't have gone any better - it's been a dream.

Last week against South Africa I reached double figures in caps and it's still a bit hard to believe Tom Court

"I gave up a fairly high-paying job in a managerial position in Australia and a contract offer from the Reds to come to Ulster.

"It was a massive gamble and at first things went slowly and I wasn't playing much for Ulster. I had doubts.

"It was a process of continual improvement. The priority was getting the scrum right and then adding to my game."

Indeed, Court adds that he has only started to feel comfortable at the top level over the past six months.

"Last week against South Africa I reached double figures in caps and it's still a bit hard to believe. It's almost gone too smoothly.

"I'm trying to switch off about that though, I can wax lyrical when I'm retired."

Court has profited from his ability to cover both sides of the scrum, making him a key addition to Ireland's bench.

Eight of his 10 appearances have been as a replacement, although against Samoa he starts at loose-head in place of Cian Healy.

606: DEBATE Hayes was lifting Toner in the lineout sessions. It was awesome to watch d4surfer

The 30-year-old is happy operating in either of the two prop positions but believes his versatility could ultimately hold him back.

"Being able to play both sides is sometimes a catch 22. It can mean you are picked more often if you play both sides.

"But if you want to push on then sometimes it can work against you because other guys may specialise in one side or the other.

"I just have to make sure I perform at the highest possible standard on both sides. It's then up to them to pick and choose."

The scrum has often been Ireland's Achilles heel, but Court believes it now offers a second avenue of attack at the set-piece following years of over-reliance on the line-out.

"We've got the depth to challenge any team in the scrum, it's just about getting it right on the day," he said.

"In the past Ireland have relied purely on the line-out but maybe because Paul O'Connell has been injured we've had to rely more on our scrum."

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