Today's other stories in brief

Jones shows early promise

We are preparing for Dylan Alexander Jones to become the next world president of Mensa, the invitation only club for boffins, nerds and brainy swots. Mr Jones appeared in the Ulster programme for Saturday's match against Llaneli Scarlets in Ravenhill and was asked to name his Ulster All-Star 15. The Conlig native set about is task with gusto and named Bryn Cunningham at fullback. The rest of the back line was Tommy Bowe, Andy Maxwell, Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble, with Isaac Boss and David Humphreys the midfield pairing.

The pack was Bryan Young, Rory Best and Justin Fitzpatrick in the frontrow, Matt McCullough and Justin Harrison as locks and Neil Best, Stephen Ferris and Roger Wilson at six, seven and eight. Mr Jones hopes soon to go to Ravenhill and sing "Stand Up For The Ulster Men" as he is five months short of being two years old. Good pick young Jones!

Best gets strange delivery

The Ulster Branch received a call during the autumn international series from one of their players on the national squad urgently looking for some post he had ordered. Flanker Neil Best was enquiring about a package that might have been delivered to the Ulster Branch offices and was concerned that the perishable goods might be left in the offices over the weekend.

When asked what the goods were - cheese? salami? smoked salmon? - the flanker replied: "a Preying Mantis". "A what?" was the reply before the chemistry graduate explained that it was like "a giant stick insect."

Apparently the players were so bored during their month long stay at the Killiney Castle Hotel that they were ordering all sorts of things online. The Preying Mantis, by the way, is kept in a cage and eats slow props, lethargic centres and especially balletic wingers at least once a week.

Last march on old Thomond

To commemorate the final match at the old Thomond Park, Limerick city is hosting a number of events on Saturday, January 20th, that will eventually culminate in Munster's Heineken European Cup match against the Leicester Tigers.

There will be street entertainment in the centre of the city along with the Royal Bank of Scotland-sponsored throwing competition where there will plenty of spot prizes on offer. This will coincide with an opportunity to win a big party for the final day of the Six Nations tournament.

In addition the Irish Wheelchair Rugby team will be holding a training session at the Limerick Institute of Technology gym in the early afternoon.

At 3.30pm a final march on Thomond Park will be led by a local band from Limerick city centre.

If you are still in search of a ticket and fancy yourself as a budding poet, Limerick city, in conjunction with the Pat Kenny radio show, is holding a limerick competition beginning the line "There was a red army from Munster".

All details of the above will be found on the Munster Supporters Club website at www.munsterrugbysupporters.com.

Wesley go back to school

We're not quite sure but this column doubts whether there have been too many AIB League matches played in Wesley College, Ballinteer, but last Saturday Old Wesley took their division three match against Ards to the school. The reason for the switch from their traditional home of Donnybrook was because the venue was required for the European Cup match between Leinster and Edinburgh.

Further compounding the grounds issue is that Old Wesley used to have playing facilities up in Kilgobbin in Sandyford but those have been sold. So Wesley College offered their facilities and several volunteers from the club were up in Ballinteer to rope off the playing surface from the hardy souls that braved the slanting rain and howling gale to watch the proceedings.

Thus spoke Corrigan

The Leinster fans have honoured yet another of their favourite players and this time it's Reggie Corrigan whose wise words adorn at T-shirt (15). The profits from all T-shirt sales go to the Leinster Supporters Club to purchase drums and flags and to play for buses.

It contains the following quote from Reggie. "In this game, muscle and aggression are basic ingredients, it's always been that way, and it will always stay that way. Without those ingredients, those fellows with the fast hands and the quick feet don't get to play. It's why there will forever be a place in a rugby team for big, awkward sods like myself."

Those looking to order can log on to www.leinsterfans.com/forum and click on Leinster Addicts for details.