Lanzarote beckons

Sun, sea and sangria, the joys of going on a summer holiday. What better place than Lanzarote with its exceptional climate, the quaint old port speckled with lovely restaurants and miles and miles of beautiful beaches. Add in 24 themed Irish pubs and the scope is there for a fun few weeks.

Unfortunately for the Ireland senior rugby squad, it is unlikely that they will be seen on the back of an inflatable banana or lounging by the poolside bar. This column is led to believe that the alternative to the recently cancelled 2001 summer tour of New Zealand is a three-week training camp in Lanzarote.

There the good news ends for those players who make the trip. Suitably spartan accommodation has already been chosen and there won't be too many trappings of the holiday lifestyle. Instead the squad will enjoy a little early pre-season training and whatever delights fitness guru Liam Hennessy can dream up. Still there's always the stuffed donkey and sombrero to be had at the airport.