Not in Dan Sheehan's mindset to bemoan heavy workload on World Cup stars

Dan Sheehan is up there near the top of the list when it comes to the games played this season by Ireland's World Cup stars

Dan Sheehan during Leinster Rugby squad training at UCD in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Preparations for last year’s Rugby World Cup began on June 18th when Andy Farrell’s players reported for duty in Dublin. The season will end 13 months and one day later when the national side faces South Africa at King’s Park Stadium in Durban in the second of two summer Tests.

As a schedule, it is as long as it is ridiculous and it’s one that rips to shreds any semblance of worth in World Rugby’s declarations about player welfare. Ireland’s players can’t be immune from the strains, even if they are spared by the IRFU the flogging common in other countries.