New Zealand's Rugby World Cup stars fancy Bandon Grammar for the cup

Bandon Grammar School will hope to be inspired by a little reflected Rugby World Cup glory after two of New Zealand’s try scorers in Saturday’s final took time out from their celebrations to tip the school for next year’s Munster Senior Cup.

Immediately after the final, Beauden Barrett and Nehe Milner-Skudder held up the sign reading “Bandon Grammar for the ‘Other Cup’” for a photo that made a splash on social media yesterday.

Bandon Grammar Games Master George Bradfield confirmed there was great excitement in the school as the photo did the rounds.

“One of the players’ dads was at the match and he met the Barretts afterwards and took the opportunity. It was great they did it. Straight after the match too. They could have said no,” explained Bradfield, who coaches the school’s senior team.

Following Sonny Bill Williams’ gesture to hand his winners’ medal to a young fan who ran onto the Twickenham pitch, it is another example of how the grounded All Blacks go the extra mile for their admirers.

“Looking at the photos after the match, they all seem to be mixing with the public. They’ve really helped the profile of the game,” noted Bradfield. “It was very good of them to give the time to it. We’re delighted with it.”

So will Bandon Grammar be aping the All Blacks style in this season’s competition? Their coach is certainly a fan. “Their style of rugby is to be admired too they way they’ve opened up the game, and show how to play without having to hit everyone in sight. Play for space. Play ball. It’d be nice to see the Irish team and the Munster team and all of us look at that.”