It's official. The Leinster rugby squad is Ireland's equivalent to the English Royal family. Borrowing from the English monarchist tradition, the Leinster squad can not travel, more specifically fly, together as a unit for fear that unknown saboteurs might wipe them out at a stroke.

Ever security conscious, the Leinster panel flew to Paris on Friday for yesterday's Heineken European Cup tie against Stade Francais in two groups. It is believed that the management, coach Mike Ruddock and manager Ken Ging, boarded separate flights.

There is no truth in the assertion that they simply could not get enough seats on the one flight to Paris and therefore had to split up the party.