The rebuilding of Tommy Bowe

HE’S always been one for making the most of things, Tommy Bowe. A snowball fight in Soldier Field was not quite the kind of competitive action Ireland’s wounded winger had in mind for February 2016. But he still made the most of it.

Bowe, All Black Ryan Crotty and US Eagle Andrew Suniula were ankle deep in the white stuff in Chicago on Tuesday at one of the most storied stadiums in North American sports to announce Ireland’s meeting with the All Blacks there this November. As sharp with a snowball as a rugby ball apparently, Bowe came out on top.

The weekend festival forms part of another major push for the sport stateside, two years after Soldier Field sold out 61,500 seats for the world champions’ first visit here. Bowe admits the All Blacks, and that near mythical first win over them, remains the most gnawing itch he has yet to scratch in his career – “It’s history. That’s what it is”.