‘I knew something was wrong when 20 plain clothes gardaí turned up at Irish training’

THE statistician who compiles player data for Easter Sunday’s match programme at Thomond Park won’t have any quirky job specs to attach to the players.

Modern day rugby means that there’ll be 46 professionals on display.

In one sense, that’s a pity. Munster and Ulster have a proud history against each other for well over a century and, despite cultural, political and historic differences, there’s always been a healthy respect and friendship between players from both sides of the border — much of which was forged while united under the Irish rugby jersey.