New red wave needs to step up

HARLEQUINS and Munster have a European rugby relationship that goes way back. In 1997, Harlequins arrived to play their final pool match in Thomond Park with a quarter-final place in the bag looking to confirm a home draw.

Keith Wood, Tony Diprose, Will Carling and a host of other Lions and internationals were in the squad. Munster were already eliminated and would play for nothing but their pride. Not much was expected from a semi-professional team pitting themselves against the English elite. But Munster are a dangerous animal on their own patch and Carling and his team-mates were sent packing.

Players and coaches have come and gone from both set-ups in the interim but there are two hardy Munster characters who remain from those early European days. David Wallace and Ronan O’Gara both featured for Munster in 1997. They were two young guns who had just broken into the Munster scene and have enjoyed glittering careers over the past 14 seasons.