Ron Boucher hopeful Lansdowne’s work pays off in Clontarf battle

The post-match Saturday night ‘bust out’ is just about the last bit of evidence that Irish club rugby still has an amateur status.

Ron Boucher, the 29-year-old solicitor who leads Lansdowne into battle in tomorrow’s Ulster Bank League final against Clontarf at the Aviva Stadium (1pm) is glad there is still room for the occasional “bust out” in a sport that is to all intents and purposes, professional.

Boucher and his mates, bar the likely late night after their weekly game, spend the rest of the week in professional mode. The rugby season is tough for them and for Boucher it means a pre-6am start a few days a week to go to the gym and then a full day shift at the office. Not to mention two nights training with his club and often the necessity to sometimes head back to the office to finish off some work.