Scrum for autographs as Munster heroes meet fans ...

MUNSTER rugby players lined out in Limerick and Cork yesterday to meet their beloved fans.

Deluged by more than 400 supporters in Limerick, team management had to come to the rescue of players as writer’s cramp began to set in during a two-hour autographing session.

Mary Brennan who lives near Thomond Park, brought along a team of nine children.

She said: “I have seven of my neighbour’s children and my own two, Diarmuid, aged 12 and Gearóid, aged eight. They met all the team. It was just fantastic.

“In fairness there is great credit to the team for making themselves available when they have so much demands on them. They really appreciate their supporters.”

The players signed jerseys, footballs, hats, team pictures and a whole array of other memorabilia. Local Limerick hero, Paul O’Connell was in huge demand and seemed to enjoy himself.

The scramble for tickets, meanwhile, continues. One group of Limerick supporters have sorted out their travel arrangements by taking to the high seas.

Michael Gleeson, who runs a city centre deli supermarket, and seven friends, have hired a yacht for €2,500.

They will sail from Wexford to Wales and stay on board during their stay — a four-day voyage in all.

Meanwhile, the warm weather contributed to a festival atmosphere at Musgrave Park, in Cork, as more than 1,000 fans turned up to meet their Munster heroes.

Almost all of the squad’s Cork-based players turned out to salute their fans, ahead of the Heineken Cup final on May 20.

While the absence of star half-backs Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara disappointed some fans, the majority were delighted to mingle with the likes of Donnacha O’Callaghan and Christian Cullen.

The players spent more than an hour signing autographs, posing for photos and offering opinions on their chances of beating Biarritz in Cardiff.

A spokesperson for the Munster branch said the day had been a huge success.

“Munster’s fans really are like a 16th man, they’re a massive part of the team’s success and the players are delighted to meet them and talk rugby,” said the spokesperson.