Phillips - Horan tweets 'just banter'

Ok, everybody relax - Mike Phillips is not coming for poor wee Niall

Chisel-jawed Welsh scrum-half Mike Phillips has moved to pour cool water on a Twitter spat involving himself, One Direction's Niall Horan and Ireland's Rob Kearney, calling the online verbals 'banter'.

The row broke out in the aftermath of Wales' defeat to Ireland on Saturday, which saw Phillips sin-binned in the final minutes after tempers flared following Paddy Jackson's try.

(To recap - Wales 23 Liam Williams came in hard on Jackson after he grounded the ball for the score, with Williams, Kearney and Phillips in the thick of the flare-up that followed)

Mike got yellow-carded, Ireland got the win and the rest is history… until Mullingar's finest One Directioner got stuck in on Twitter after the match, calling the Racing Metro player "a right arrogant idiot".

Mike Philips is like a child throwing his toys out of the pram! his attitude is terrible, looks like a right arrogant idiot

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) February 8, 2014

And the famously short-fused Phillips didn't like that at all, at all.

We're told this is what's known in the manly world of sports as being 'called out'. No idea what 'the rest of the Beatles' had to say about it, but in swooped Ireland's number 15 - yep, that's Rob Kearney to you - apparently eager to finish what he had started on the pitch.

@mikephillips009 don't worry @NiallOfficial - I've got your back!!

— Rob Kearney (@KearneyRob) February 9, 2014

Lest we forget, here's Rob (15) and Mike (red jersey, scrunchy face) in conversation during the game.

Niall was evidently grateful for the dig-out.

“@KearneyRob: @mikephillips009 don't worry @NiallOfficial - I've got your back!!” Cheers pal! he's ragin sexto beat them on his right foot!

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) February 9, 2014

As the war of tweets escalated, even Welsh referee Nigel Owens got involved.

Got 2 matches to ref this week. Saturday Munster v Zebre but before then this big one. Not sure what kit to wear lolhttp://t.co/ijbNKBY6qB"

— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) February 9, 2014

Finally though it was Phillips who moved to calm things, posting a concilatory shot of him and Kearney all pals on the Lions tour and the caption 'Where did it all go wrong?'.

Rob later described the two and fro as "a bit of Sunday fun!!" saying he and Mike had enjoyed a night out together after Satuday's game.

Mike's last tweet appeared to poke fun at himself and show a keenness to put the issue to bed, dismissing the exchange as #banter.

Rugby, eh?