Christmas comes early for Ireland’s finest

CONNACHT went fancy dress, Leinster travelled to Sean O’Brien’s local, Munster called on an old friend and Ulster spent the night recalling a trip from hell.

Three of Ireland’s rugby provinces enjoyed their Christmas parties on Sunday night following a hectic weekend’s Heineken Cup action. And, just like their form, each had a different twist.

It was an altogether more low-key affair for Munster this year, following Doug Howlett’s arrest in Kilkenny last December. The squad travelled to Clare where they visited Fanny O’Dea’s in Lissycasey and stopped off in Newmarket-on-Fergus on the way back to Limerick for a bite to eat.