Compiled by John O'Sullivan.
Munster fans in desperate need for early toilet break
MUNSTER RUGBY fans have long been celebrated for their passionate support of the team and their willingness to travel in droves to away matches no matter what the venue.
A further avocation of this devotion has come to the attention of this column with regard to the recent Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Gloucester at Kingsholm. The exact details are a little sketchy but it is understood that the gates of Kingsholm were open about 9.30am on the day of the match - the kick-off was at 5.30pm - so that various final preparations could be made to cater for the event.
One worker thought he heard a 'shush' as he passed the ladies toilets so he decided to wait around and sure enough, believed he heard other tell-tale sounds of human life. He went and got some support and on returning entered the ladies toilets, suggesting that 'whoever was there come on out now' etc, etc.
Apparently he and his colleagues were quite taken aback when about 14 Munster supporters emerged from the cubicles rather sheepishly. In fairness, they were prepared to wait some eight hours in a cramped enclosure just to get a look at their heroes. Unfortunately they ended up having to watch the match in Mike Teague's pub rather than being present at the game.
No doubt this tale will replace the "'how many elephants can you get in a mini?", down Munster way.
Meanwhile, it seems the formal confirmation that Munster will play the All Blacks at Thomond Park on New Zealand's tour to the Northern Hemisphere later in the year is getting closer. The game will mark the 30th anniversary of Munster's 12-0 win over the All Blacks. The NZRU's Steve Tew admitted: "We are close to it, but until we have ink on paper we cannot say for sure that is going to happen."
Carr may get chance at Leicester
THERE IS a suggestion that former underage international and Leinster academy player Fionn Carr may get an opportunity to add to the Irish connection at the Leicester Tigers. Carr, who scored all of Blackrock's points in the AIB Senior Cup final defeat to Shannon on Saturday, was thought to be in contention for a development contract with Leinster next season, having finished in the academy.
He is a player of real potential and if he does go to the Tigers it'll be a great opportunity to discover a work ethic that could fast track his development. It certainly worked for his former neighbour in Naas, Johne Murphy. The two families live just down the road from one another.
Five fail drug tests in France
JUST A month after a couple of massive brawls at two separate matches brought the French Division Two Championship (Pro D2) into disrepute, it appears five players within that league have failed drug tests conducted by the French Anti-Doping Agency in mid-January.
The identities of the offenders have not been released but it is yet another blow for the Pro D2. The five positive tests come from a batch of 90 tests conducted by the Agence française de lutte contre le dopage (AFLD). Six players from each team were tested over the weekend of January 19th and 20th.
French sports daily L'Equipepointed out the results will carry sanctions of varying lengths. One case involves Metandienone, a synthetic steroid with anabolic properties. Two of the other positive tests were for cannabis. The remaining two infringements are said to be for products that could be used for therapeutic reasons.
ISC address concerns over use of supplements by schoolboys
CONCERNS OVER the widespread use of supplements by school's rugby players are being seriously addressed by the Irish Sports Council (ISC).
The worst kept secret in Irish sport is that teenage players are bulking up with the "so called" supplements that the ISC say are being "made in cement mixers" and over which there is no control whatsoever.
Munster coach Declan Kidney was asked to speak at the recent Under-18 Festival about the misplaced belief that these chemicals are actually good for players.
"Declan spoke to the teams passionately against this practice. He said that one does not need to get anything out of a bottle to succeed as a rugby player," said chairman of the ISC Anti Doping Committee, Dr Brendan Buckley.
As if those dire warnings are not enough, the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada) recently carried out a study on such DIY "health" products and found that 20 per cent of them contained banned substances.
On the move
IT NOW appears certain Juan Martin Hernandez could be on his way from Stade Francais to Leicester.
The Argentinian wasn't included in a list of players who have signed contract extensions with the Parisian club.
French internationals Sylvain Marconnet, Dimitri Szarzewski and Lionel Beauxis, as well as Argentinian prop Rodrigo Roncero, have extended their contracts.
