Thumbs up for young gun Luke

THE youngest of Ireland’s three new rugby caps, Luke Fitzgerald, received a ringing endorsement from his captain Brian O’Driscoll yesterday.

Fitzgerald, a former Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star, becomes the youngest player to play for Ireland since Alistair McKibbin against Wales in 1977 when he lines out against the Pacific Islands at Lansdowne on Sunday.

The Irish skipper holds his Leinster colleague in high esteem and believes the decision to play the youngster is well merited.