12,000 turn out in Tours to welcome Ireland but pitch 'fungus' means training is moved

Andy Farrell's squad were scheduled to host an open session but plans were disrupted. 

CLAP BACK Jamison Gibson-Park leads the team in an 'Icelandic clap' with local supporters. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Ireland World Cup squad made a grand entrance in their host city of Tours on Saturday as 12,000 spectators watched Andy Farrell’s players warm up at Stade de la Vallee du Cher after a planned training session was cancelled.

The stadium, home to Tours FC, is not Ireland’s official training base but was put to use to accommodate intense local interest in the Grand Slam champions, with tickets for the session snapped up within hours of being made available last month.