Heineken Cup on California trip

The Heineken Cup will be paraded Stateside this week as part of Irish Week in San Francisco.

Munster's Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan will lead a delegation from Ireland to meet with Mayor Gavin Newsom at San Francisco City Hall on Friday, while on a tour of northern California

The rugby heroes will parade the Heineken Cup to appreciative audiences of Irish American supporters during Irish Week, which begins in San Francisco and San Jose, tomorrow.

Foley, who led Munster's European Cup victory last year, and fellow Munster squad member Quinlan have both played for Ireland at international level, with Foley being capped 62 times and Quinlan 23 times.

They are being accompanied on their Californian tour by Munster coach Declan Kidney and Roger Downer, the chairman of Munster Rugby.

The men's tour of northern California will see them fulfil a programme of public engagements around San Francisco and San Jose.

Activities planned for the delegation kick off with a reception in their honour tomorrow hosted by Ireland's consul general, Imer Deane, and Limerick native and senior vice-president of Palm Inc. John Hartnett.

Announcing the tour itinerary, Munster Rugby USA co-founder John Hartnett said the visit would prove how much Munster rugby is supported worldwide.

"We are very excited to have representatives of the Heineken Cup championship team here in Northern California," said Mr Hartnett.

"Munster has established itself as one of the world's premier rugby club sides, and this visit helps to demonstrate how much Munster rugby is recognised and followed the world over."