James Lowe: 'I would have loved if my old man would have been able to listen to me'

James Lowe, with Changemaker Cian McCarthy, aged 6, from Naas, at the launch of the 'I Am Number 17' book, which showcases the stories and portraits of 17 people living with a rare disease across Ireland. Pic: Damien Eagers/Julien Behal Photography

Sitting in the Oak Room of the Mansion House on Wednesday afternoon, James Lowe wished that growing up in New Zealand, he’d had a community like that standing before him. He wished his father had access to it as well.

The Leinster, Ireland and Lions winger was launching a book, I Am Number Seventeen, which highlights that one in 17 people in Ireland – around 300,000 in all – are living with a rare disease. Rare doesn't mean uncommon in this case.