DEIRDRE McQUILLANtalks to SHANE JENNINGS, Leinster rugby player
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE WEARINGThe striped short-sleeved rugby top is Gant and the jeans are Hugo Boss. My belt is Carhartt and the shoes are Gant.
ARE YOU A SHOPPER?I like clothes, but I'm not a big shopper. I'd go out every couple of months and at Christmas I'd treat myself.
HOW WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?I am pretty conservative, but I do like Gant and Hugo Boss for their quality. I still have Gant tops which I got from my mother leaving school and going to college. I also like G-Star jeans.
YOU WEAR A LOT OF JEANS?If you ask every rugby player, they'll tell you they find it hard to get jeans to fit – big legs, big bums! G-Star do a good fit – all rugby players tend to wear the same kind of jeans, but some lads struggle to get jeans in Ireland and have to wait to get them in the US.
DO YOU WEAR SUITS?I am not a suit man, probably due to my profession. I got a Louis Copeland suit after school, but we have sponsors for our formal wear.
WHAT ABOUT SHIRTS?I like shirts, but I have big neck and usually shirts are like tents and it's hard to get one that will fit well. Paul Smith shirts fit well.
THE MOST YOU'VE EVER SPENT?I treated myself to a navy wool Hugo Boss jacket two years ago for €500, but I would not usually spend anything near that on clothes.
DO YOU ALWAYS WEAR CASUAL CLOTHES?I am in comfy clothes all week and when it comes to the weekend, it's jeans and casual wear. I am pretty boring when it comes to dress sense, but I would have a bit of an issue with wearing a pair of linen trousers – I am happiest in a pair of shorts and flip flops! I usually wear runners and only casual shoes when I go out.
SOME SPORTSMEN GET A LOT OF ATTENTION ABOUT WHAT THEY WEARSome of them are into their fashion. People comment on more high-profile players, but not on fellas like me. If anyone on the team wore something flamboyant, they'd get a bit of slagging, so it takes a brave fellow to do it if they're going to get abuse for it. There are all different characters and all different shapes and sizes and that can bring out different fashion ideas. Each to their own – it's only light-hearted fun.
FAVOURITE SHOPS?I'm lucky, because I live near the Dundrum Town Centre.
DO GIRLFRIENDS INFLUENCE PLAYERS?My girlfriend likes to think she does, but a helping hand is good. I know one or two lads whose girlfriends do all the shopping for them.
GROOMING?I usually cut my hair myself with a razor. From time to time I go to the barber – I probably have the same haircut I had when I was 12.