Letter from Tours: Loire Valley ready for the Irish...and the more of them the better

The hope of municipal leaders and the sport’s hardcore community in the city is that the arrival of Ireland can light the spark for rugby and provide a foundation for rugby’s development here

IRISH INVASION: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell with players, including Jeremy Loughman of Ireland after the Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Samoa. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

It is not just the vineyards, the historic chateaux and natural beauty that has convinced Ireland’s World Cup squad to make their tournament base in the Loire Valley for the tournament’s pool campaign over the next six weeks.

Andy Farrell’s team has arrived in the ancient city of Tours meaning business for what lies ahead over the next two months and that most definitely includes training at a purpose-built, newly-renovated, rugby-specific €3.9 million complex just to the north of the famous river.