Even the worms take cover

THE beginner stuck grimly to his task, sending clumps of shamrock-laden earth flying in all directions with every desperate swipe…

THE beginner stuck grimly to his task, sending clumps of shamrock-laden earth flying in all directions with every desperate swipe at the ball. "This is so embarrassing," he said red-faced. "The worms will think there's an earthquake." To which his razorsharp caddie piped up: "I don't know about that, sir. The worms around here are very clever. Right now, I'll bet they're all hiding safely underneath your ball."

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered to your phone