Planet Rugby is compiled by John O'Sullivan.
Red army win again
Munster fans once again provided marvellous support to their team at an away match when they travelled in their droves to Treviso for last Saturday's Heineken European Cup fixture.
It's not especially hard to have to spend a couple of days in either Treviso or nearby Venice - about 20 miles down the road - but they once again turned out in force.
A guesstimate of the numbers that travelled would be 3,000 as they easily outnumbered home support in the Stadio Comunale di Monigo. Three charter planes ferried some of the hordes but others were more ingenious.
Three young lads arrived via Brussels and managed to do so for less than 50 air fare, probably the cheapest deal negotiated by any of the fans over the weekend.
Cullen counts days
There was further good news for Munster over the weekend quite apart from their victory over Benetton Treviso complete with bonus point for four or more tries. All Black legend Christian Cullen was at the game and confirmed he hopes to be playing in the red of Munster within a month following his shoulder operation.
Cullen will see the specialist some time next week and is expected to be cleared to resume contact in training and could make his Munster debut in a Celtic League game at the end of February.
Breslin on song
Keep an eye out for Leinster squad member and former All-Ireland minor footballer (Westmeath) Niall Breslin in the pubs and clubs of Dublin in the near future. Breslin is by several accounts an excellent guitarist and with childhood friends from Mullingar plays in a band called the Blizzards, who are due to confirm a few Dublin gigs.
Breslin has tried to teach several members of the Leinster squad to play the guitar with varying success. The Blizzards are hoping to emulate another Mullingar native, Joe Dolan, though their music is slightly different.
Old foes join forces
Yesterday the Limerick Leprechauns RFC played a cross-codes match to raise funds for charity. They took on a Tipperary All Stars Selection. The match was played in Rearcross, Co Tipperary, against an All Stars team that featured former GAA greats such as Nicky English, Bobby Ryan and Pat Fox.
All the funds raised are to be donated to St Vincent's School Lisnagry (just outside Limerick) for children with intellectual and/or physical disability.
This "cross-coding" follows on a similar recent initiative, when the Limerick Leprechauns raised over 12,000 for Pat Flannery, a member of the Smith O'Brien GAA club in Killaloe who was injured in a car accident in Australia - one of the players to appear in the fundraiser was Keith Wood.
Limerick Leprechauns, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, are a team of veterans dedicated to fund raising for good causes. The philosophy is to bring together former players from Limerick's clubs - whose normal relationship is one of fierce rivalry - to help others. In their 20-year history, they have presented over 300,000 to charities and deserving causes.
Mayhew steps down
John Mayhew, the All Black team doctor for more than a decade, has stepped down. His association with New Zealand's national team dates back to 1988.
Mayhew, who runs a sports-medicine practice at Auckland's Millennium Institute, said the decision to move aside had nothing to do with either the recent change to the All Blacks' coaching personnel or the outcome of the Rugby World Cup.
Thus ends one of the most enduring partnerships in international rugby. He served as the All Black doctor from 1988 until 1993, and then returned to the position in 1996. He was involved in 131 Test matches and over 200 games in total.
Lions' share likely
John Feehan, chief executive of the Lions management committee, has confirmed in an interview with the Guardian newspaper that the new Lions coach, to be named next month, will be allowed name his management team.
"When the coach is named he will be free to recommend his management team to the Lions committee," said Feehan.
"His recommendations would have to be rubber-stamped, but what happened in the amateur era is not of any relevance now."
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is in the running for the job but it is widely expected England coach Clive Woodward will be asked to lead next year's touring party to New Zealand for a 10-match tour.
The Lions will have a shirt sponsor, a kit supplier and four other backers.
Glittering prizes
This week is the final opportunity to win two tickets to next weekend's Heineken European Cup pool matches involving Irish provinces. The Irish Times in conjunction with ERC is offering one reader the chance to take in one of the crucial games that will determine the knock-out positions. To qualify simply name Leinster's try scorer last Friday night at Lansdowne Road and email your answer to josullivan@irish-times.ie by 6 p.m. today.
The good news doesn't finish there. Log onto www.ercrugby.com to win a pair of tickets to any game this weekend; that's any match in any of the participating countries.
