Either side of a successful Six Nations Championship with his country, Doris also featured prominently for Leinster in both the United Rugby Championship and the European Champions Cup.

After falling short in those competitions for the third successive year, the Mayo native started both tests on Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa. He subsequently returned to Irish soil in the wake of their second encounter with the Springboks on July 13, but it wasn’t long until he was airborne again.

“We got back from South Africa three weeks yesterday [Monday] and then three weeks ago today I flew off to LA. My brother lives over there and my parents were there as well.

“Myself and my girlfriend joined them for a week, which was lovely. A nice bit of family time and a bit of sun,” Doris explained at a media event yesterday, where he was announced as a new brand ambassador for Ohk Energy.

“Then headed down to Mexico for the first time for 10 days and then finished off in New York for a couple of nights before flying back. Just arrived back yesterday. Struggling with jet lag a little bit, but it was a great three weeks.

“The two matches at the end were probably up there with the most attritional throughout the whole season. It was a 55-week season, going back to the start of pre-season for the World Cup. Obviously there was weeks off here and there, but as a whole, a very long season and finishing with those two is about as attritional as you can get.”

That second game against South Africa at Kings Park Stadium in Durban was a special one for Doris as it saw him captaining Ireland to a memorable 25-24 victory due to the absence of regular skipper Peter O’Mahony from the starting line-up. He had also led Andy Farrell’s side into action when injury ruled O’Mahony out of their second round home meeting with Italy during this year’s Six Nations.

Additionally, while James Ryan and Garry Ringrose are currently co-captains of Leinster, Doris also served as skipper for the eastern province in some big encounters last season – including their Champions Cup final defeat to Toulouse in May. Despite acknowledging he still has a lot to learn, Doris believes he is starting to feel more at ease with being an on-field general.

“I think with any new job, it takes a while to get comfortable in it. I’m definitely still not there, but at the end of the season with Leinster, when James and Garry were both injured, I had a chance to get more comfortable.

“Getting a few back-to-back weeks under my belt, which definitely helps in becoming more comfortable with some of the added responsibilities. It allows you to focus more on your game and my usual sort of weekly routine and weekly prep, as well as trying to do what is needed in terms of the extra responsibilities.”

By the time Doris returns to collective Leinster training on August 19, he will have had a whole five weeks away from the stresses of professional rugby.

It is unlikely the 26-year-old will be back for the Blues’ URC opener with Edinburgh in the Scottish capital on September 20, but there is one game in the initial part of the season that he will be desperate to play in.

A little over 15 years on from their iconic Heineken Cup semi-final clash at the same venue, Leinster are set to lock horns with Munster in a fourth round URC fixture at Croke Park on October 12.

Considering he was captain of the side when the eastern province defeated Northampton Saints in the penultimate round of the Champions Cup in a packed out Croker earlier this year, Doris will be eager to put his hand up for selection ahead of their latest visit to Jones’ Road.

“The prospect of playing Munster there is very special, given the history we’ve had with them and the last game against them [in Croke Park], and the nature of it. The thought of being involved in that one is very exciting,” Doris added.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if lads filter back in, in the couple of weeks before that. I’d say it is unlikely that will be the first game for all of us anyway.”