Ties that bind

Connacht captain John Muldoon has had opportunities to move on, but his GAA background has taught him the value of loyalty. He spoke to Diarmuid O’Flynn

REGARDLESS of which part of Ireland you come from, or whether or not you are a rugby supporter, if you have an ounce of romance in your blood you will be rooting for a home win at the Sportsground in Galway this evening, when Connacht take on the might of Toulon in the semi-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

It’s a genuine David v Goliath clash, the most under-funded province in Irish rugby against one of the biggest-spending clubs in France, with 17 players bought in before the start of last season, including Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi, two of the best and most experienced international out-halves on the world scene. It’s the bottom team in the Magners League against the joint top team in the immensely competitive French Top 14; it’s the team everyone tipped to be long gone at this stage of the competition against the team most people believe will win it all. In effect, it’s pure Hollywood.