YOU HAVE to hand it to the Leinster rugby fans. They know how to celebrate in a restrained and dignified fashion. It was Leinster’s day in the sun yesterday but there wasn’t a bare chest in sight at the RDS where fans gathered to welcome the team home.
The team had just claimed the Heineken Cup but no fans were collapsed in a heap due to alcohol poisoning. No one was throwing up in the well-tended shubbery.
The queues for the ice-cream van were longer than the queues at the bar. And the van selling lattes was doing okay, too.
There was a family atmosphere at the RDS with three-wheel buggies everywhere and bouncy castles doing a busy trade.
Louisa and John Dolan were enjoying their ice creams as they watched the highlights on the big screen. “We live locally so we just came out for a walk to see them,” said Louisa.
Meanwhile Ian Fox was perched on a buggy holding his six-month old son who was clad in a Leinster jersey.
His 18-month-old daughter Ellie would have been wearing her jersey too but she fell in a puddle before the family set out from Tullamore yesterday morning.
“This is absolutely superb,” he said. “It’s long overdue and it’s nice to come out of the shadow of Munster.”
But the award for the youngest Leinster fan present must surely go to Óisin Frazer-Ward, the eight-week-old baby who was in the arms of his mother Tracey Frazer.
“He would have been wearing his Leinster jersey but he got sick on it yesterday,” she said. “He has a Lions’ jersey too. If he keeps going this way, he’ll probably be playing in a Grand Slam in 20 years time.”
Captain Leo Cullen paid tribute to the players’ long-suffering families.
“Full credit to them for putting up with our moods throughout the year,” he said and some of the wives and girlfriends gathered at the front of the stage nodded fervently.
Felipe Contepomi, who didn’t play due to injury, told the crowd the victory was “definitely” the best moment of his six years in Ireland. A fan pleaded: “Don’t go, Felipe”.
After a blast of We are the Championsand Molly Malone, it was all over.
The crowds clung to the barriers, reluctant to leave as they savoured their moment in the sun.
What they said
A “fantastic achievement” which capped “a golden year for Irish rugby”. “I am absolutely delighted with Leinster’s victory”. A “well-deserved” achievement for a team that displayed “courage, commitment, a real will to win and fantastic” rugby skills. They dug deep and deservedly came out on top against a fine Leicester team.
“It was a real pleasure to be in Edinburgh for a hugely exciting match along with thousands of other Leinster supporters who are great ambassadors for our country.”
– Taoiseach Brian Cowen
Leo Cullen and all of the Leinster team “deserve the country’s fullest praise and admiration”.
“Their determination, self-belief and tenacity provides very appropriate inspiration to the nation in these challenging times. If our country’s political leaders could perform as well . . . and work together as a team in the nation’s best interest, we could find a way out of the current economic crisis much more quickly than we otherwise would.”
– Green Party leader John Gormley
A “phenomenal achievement” and “another glorious chapter in the recent history of Irish rugby”.
– Minister for Sport Martin Cullen
STEVEN CARROLL
