Those who consider themselves diehard Irish rugby supporters might have that assertion put to the test if they plan to support not only the national senior side but either the Ireland A or Under-21 sides in Italy the weekend after next.

While the Six Nations game is in Rome, those who wish to watch the A side on the Friday afternoon (3.0) will have to conduct a little research into how they might manage the trek to the Viterbo stadium in Sando Quatrini, some 70 kilometres outside the Italian capital.

Those who wish to support the Under-21 side are not faced with quite the same distance. That match takes place in the Ostia Lido stadium in Stellapolare on the Friday night (6.30). Still it could have been worse. After all, the 13-hour flight to Buenos Aires to keep tabs on the Ireland team in the Sevens World Cup would be worse than the traffic in and around Rome, wouldn't it.