Former Lions and Ireland wing Richard Wallace was an interested spectator at Saturday's Celtic League final between Leinster and Munster. Ordinarily, he would have had divided loyalties given that brothers David and Paul should have been in opposition. Unfortunately, Munster and Ireland flanker David missed the match because of a shoulder problem.
Therefore Richie was free to cheer on Leinster tighthead Paul without any pangs of guilt. The former Saracens wing no longer plays, "having a day job" instead. While still playing rugby he was referred to as the flying wing, not only for his pace but because he also held a pilot's licence. When he retired he decided to give up his business job and pursue his love of flying.
He is now a commercial pilot with Cityjet, an airline owned by Air France. "I really love it. It's something I always had an interest in so to do it for a living is great." He is about six to eight months away from getting his Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL), the most senior licence available to commercial pilots. He has already passed the exams and now just has to clock up 1,500 air miles to qualify.
So have the family been availing of the cheap travel? "No, not really. I can't get them to fly with me for some reason," he laughed. "I remember when I was starting out and learning to fly in Shannon, I would ask them to come up in the plane with me but none of them would."
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