Planet Rugby: You want to be careful what you wear when you work at international matches. According to an IRFU official, a soundman for one of the television companies was wearing an Ireland jersey as he ran up and down the touchline at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
The soundman was only showing his allegiance, but the official recounted a story about a schools match in Donnybrook. A Belvedere College lad was warming up on the sideline without his tracksuit. A Belvedere player made a break down the wing, spotted what he thought was a team-mate running alongside - and threw the ball into touch. That is why replacements have to wear tracksuits when warming up.
Irish need you
London Irish have issued an appeal through their director of rugby, Brian Smith, for Irish-qualified players who want to play professional rugby in London.
"We are issuing an invitation to any Ireland-qualified player thinking about a short- or long-term career move to consider London and London Irish as his first port of call," said Smith.
"There was a time when London Irish was the obvious destination for young Irish players coming to England, we want to return to those days.
"We are not in competition with the IRFU, the Exiles, the Provinces or clubs. We want to complement what they do by providing players with an opportunity to experience a different, professional league environment with a club that has a powerful Irish ethos."
Interested parties can contact Smith at London Irish, The Avenue, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 5EQ (phone: 0044 1932 783034, email: info_at_london-irish.com).
Kieran Burke a winner
Bective Rangers beat Old Belvedere in the final of the Kieran Burke Memorial Plaque for under-seven players,a tournament that took place in Kilternan. In a tight final Bective won by a single try to no score, captain Michael Corcoran getting the touchdown.
Thirty-seven teams and 444 players took part in the tournament, which was held for the first time in January 2005 in memory of DLSP member and Leinster mascot Kieran Burke, who died in January 2004 aged 4.
Kieran's parents, Karl and Kate, presented the winners and runners-up medals and the plaque to the victorious Bective team.
As there were so many teams involved, the youngest players were entered in an "under-six" tournament and Clontarf beat DLSP in the final (3-1).
Storm over Sailor
It seems a war of words has broken out between a couple of Aussie franchises ahead of the start of the Super 14. New South Wales and Queensland squared up verbally ahead of the February 11th opener.
NSW are disappointed the Reds have chosen to market the Brisbane game around the departed Wendell Sailor, who will line up against his former team-mates.
The Waratahs broke a decade-long hoodoo in recording their first win over the Reds in last year's Super 12. They have put the Wallaby on billboards and not in a complimentary sense.
Definitely not a case of Hello Sailor for next Saturday's match.
Cullen for long run
Clontarf clubman Andrew Cullen will run the Flora London Marathon on Sunday, April 23rd in the company of two friends, Paddy Lee and Greg Molins.
Running the classic distance has been a personal ambition of Cullen's but he also has altruistic motives - he is raising money to help those with spinal injuries.
"Some years ago a good friend of mine was involved in an unfortunate rugby accident which left him paralysed," says Cullen.
"The support and help he received while attending the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire helped him rebuild his life. Having seen at first hand the work done there, I wish to raise funds for the cause."
Cullen would welcome donations, which can be sent to him at 19 Hampton Court, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Cheques should be made payable to Spinal Injuries Ireland. The Spinal Injuries Ireland bank account is at Bank of Ireland, Phibsboro, Dublin 7 (No: 21069816. Sort Code: 900623). To donate online visit www.spinalinjuries.ie.
The winner of last week's competition for two nights' B&B, dinner and two tickets for the Ireland v Italy game was Ciarán Loughnane of Galway.
