Drico no-show leaves fans upset

HIS appearance in the Lions tour may have been brief, by rugby star Brian O’Driscoll was a no-show in Dublin yesterday leaving dozens of fans disappointed.

HMV was forced to apologise after the Lions captain failed to turn up at a planned DVD signing of his Lions Diary at HMV in Dublin’s Grafton Street.

In a statement, the high street retailer said: “HMV and Mr O’Driscoll regret the inconvenience and disappointment caused to those fans that queued, although we are pleased to confirm that a signed copy of the ‘Lions Diary’ DVD will be reserved for everyone that came along and left their contact details. These fans will also receive a free copy of the rugby DVD ‘In the Lion’s Den’.”

A spokesman for O’Driscoll said the player failed to show due to a double booking.

“It was crossed wires, he was at a Bank of Scotland function at the same time, it was purely a cock-up in the arrangements. We weren’t able to get him from one to the other in time.

“Given how busy it has been over the last while one isn’t too bad.

“Arrangements are already in place to get signed copies of the DVD for the people who turned up. They won’t be disappointed,” said the statement.

The Irish centre, who also appeared in all three British and Irish Lions tests in their tour of Australia in 2001, was named captain of the 2005 Lions squad in April.

However, he was sidelined when he was injured by a controversial ‘spear’ tackle in the first match against the All Blacks in the summer.

O’Driscoll, recently voted Ireland’s sexiest man, is set to miss Ireland’s November internationals but hopes to play for Leinster in the Heineken Cup pool games in January and lead the country in next year’s Six Nations.

The Lions captain is due to hold a DVD signing in HMV in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Thursday, November 10.