Champions Du Monde. Harry McKibbin remembers the presentation ceremony, the standing ovation that the squad received on entry to the auditorium where the end of tournament banquet was staged, recalls the matches, a controversial if successful protest, and the moment, the exact moment, when he realised that Ireland were going to win the Under-19 Rugby World Cup.

Team manager, logistical expert, mother hen, McKibbin's roles were as varied as the problems that presented themselves last March and April when an Ireland squad of 26 players travelled to Toulouse in France, took on the world and won.

"I suppose the first realisation that we were actually going to win was about two minutes from the end of the final against France, when the coaches Declan (Kidney) and Bart (Fanin) decided to put on the rest of the bench. It dawned on me then that we had won.

"There was the practical aspect of the situation: we were 18-0 ahead and there was only two minutes left, but that doesn't quite dawn on you at the time."

There was less auspicious beginnings to what would turn out to be a fairytale success. "I suppose I remember being down in Clongowes at the first get-together and wondering how on earth we were going to trim the panel of 60.

"There were practical problems in preparing for France - an element of homesickness, the time it would take to adjust to the food and atmosphere, the different smells, different culture. Mentally it was important to get the squad right so that rugby was all on which they had to concentrate.

"Some players were studying for the Leaving Certificate or A levels, others had University exams, so me made time each day so that they had a chance to study. We didn't force them, simply gave them an opportunity. We went to France early, on the Monday. The tournament started the following Saturday.

"The management policy was to encourage total integration within the squad and to that end the players were told that they could not sit down to a meal or at a meeting beside anyone from the same province. We wanted no cliques. At meetings players were encouraged to speak up and by the end everyone was willing to express opinions.

"We also fought very hard to ensure that all 26 players felt important, that nobody felt left out. To this end everyone received a match or part of a match. There were fun nights in the hotels, fancy dress. It might seem corny but it fostered team spirit."

Despite conceding a try after just 20 seconds in their first match against the US, Ireland won comfortably. In the next match they trailed 17-0 to South Africa, produced a stunning second half fightback to draw 17-17 and then lost out on a place-kicking competition to decide the winner . . . or so they thought.

"The South Africans had used an illegal kicker and had inadvertently broken the rules. It was a hairy time, but I closed my eyes and recalled how the boys had put their bodies on the line in the second half, so I went and made an objection.

"There was a great deal of pressure brought to bear on us to back down but we refused to do so. We had been told about the kicking rules at a managers' meeting prior to the start of the tournament and also by the referee at the time. The FIRA committee upheld the protest. We felt that we couldn't leave it at that, we had to justify our place in the semi-finals."

Ireland beat Argentina, the defending champions, and then defeated France in the final at the Stade Les Sept Deniers.

"My abiding memory of the final, outside of the playing aspect of things, was the support of the parents and various IRFU officials. They were a wonderfully supportive, noisy bunch. We had prepared for the final like every other match and I think that came across in the demeanour of the players. A great bunch of lads."