The perils of putting on the ’Ritz

BIARRITZ is a beautiful seaside town. Perhaps not quite as beautiful as San Sebastián, but there is very little in it.

Similar to San Sebastián, the beach is right in the centre, not unlike Youghal beach in East Cork (although admittedly ‘not unlike’ in the way Dom Perignon is not unlike sparkling cider).

The Biarritz press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Munster was held close to the beach, in the town’s premier hotel, and chaired by the club’s larger-than-life president Marcel Martin.