Lions glad to stretch legs on home soil

It was just after 10.30am yesterday morning when five contented but almost comatose Irish Lions appeared at the arrivals gate of Dublin Airport leaning on their luggage trolleys for support as much as pushing them.

It was still May when they departed for an odyssey that would take in a pre-tour camp in the UK, the opener against the Barbarians in Hong Kong, a flurry of flights around Oz and an endless supply of drama and adrenalin.

Most of the landing party, which also included Lions media and backroom staff, were understandably eager to shuffle through the throng of family members, fans and media and complete the last leg of their wearying journey from Sydney via London.