O’Callaghan: I’ve never been fitter

AN AUDIENCE with Ireland star Donncha O’Callaghan is rarely dull, especially when the giant lock forward removes the serious match-day mask as he did at Dromoland Castle this week for the launch of the new adidas tight-fit Munster jersey.

What was revealed is the other Donncha; the squad prankster. The man who (in)famously pulled down Alastair Campbell’s tracksuit pants in public on the 2005 Lions tour, and who is known to have tied a reporters’ shoelaces in mid-interview.

All joking aside, O’Callaghan says he has never felt in better shape after a pre-season that included two trips to Spala in Poland, the Olympic training camp 90 minutes south of Warsaw and home to various Ireland rugby squads during 19 visits over the last six years. If the word ‘camp’ suggests all fun and games think again, though if you’re Donncha O’Callaghan there is always the funnier side — especially his description of Spala’s centrepiece, the blue cryochamber built seven years ago and visited annually by 6000 athletes.