SEVEN WEEKS is a long time in the world of rugby – it’s even longer in the life of a young child.
Seven-month-old Kevin Ross wasn’t crawling when his dad Mike, the Irish prop forward, left for New Zealand. He is now.
The young boy and his mum Kimberlee were at the front of the queue at Dublin airport yesterday to greet the team, both eager to see dad and show him what Kevin had learned and how he’d grown during the World Cup campaign.
“Of course it’s tough [having Mike away],” said Kimberlee, “but you deal with what you’re dealt. We’re so proud of him. Anything you can to do to help him succeed makes it all the better. I know Mike’s really looking forward to seeing him [Kevin].”
Ross, O’Driscoll and Kearney contingents were among a crowd of hundreds of fans, family and friends that gathered at the airport to extend a warm welcome home to the team.
News that the squad had divided in London, with Munster- based players headed to Cork and Ulster to Belfast, came as a surprise to some who had come with Ronan O’Gara- and Paul O’Connell-themed signs, but they were happy to wait nonetheless.
The crowd yesterday did its best to convert Dublin’s Terminal 2 arrivals area into a mini-Eden Park. There was singing, screaming, banners, flags, green jerseys and a strong sense of pride in what had been achieved – despite Saturday’s crushing reverse against Wales.
“They played really well,” said Leah Hogan (15) from Ballinteer in Dublin. “It’s disappointing that they’re home so early but we’re still proud . . . I think it was definitely worth getting up for all the [6am] games.”
Then, after a few false starts and much bemusement, the public address finally told the crowd what they wanted to hear. The boys were back in town – well, some of them at least.
Brian O’Driscoll, Cían Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Jonny Sexton, Rob Kearney, Eoin Reddan, Gordon D’Arcy and Mike Ross were among those who emerged, with Declan Kidney behind, and it didn’t take long for things to reach fever pitch.
Family members came forward with hugs, fans handed over markers and requests for autographs on everything from jerseys to teddy bears to an Ulster Bank lodgement slip.
For coach Kidney there was a sense of disappointment. “We wanted to keep things going for another two weeks and that’s what [winning] last Saturday could have done. We started this on June 28th so we’ve been away from home for 3½ months.
“It’s nice to get home but we look forward to the next game too . . . We play Wales in February.”
Weary after their arduous trek, Cork-based players Ronan O’Gara and Donncha O’Callaghan came home to warm smiles and embraces when they were met by their families at Cork airport.
O’Gara, who was greeted by his wife Jessica, son JJ and twins Rua and Molly – who were celebrating their third birthday – said he hadn’t planned to be home for their birthday but it was great to see them all.
“It’s been a long way home. It’s disappointing but that’s the way it goes at this level . . . . we’ve lost once and we’re home. That was disappointing but they’re a great bunch of lads, great camaraderie and a lot of highlights for us to take away from the competition.
“I remember coming back four years ago and the feeling this time is completely different.”
O’Gara, who hinted after Ireland’s superb win over Australia that he might retire from the international scene at the end of the World Cup campaign, was reluctant to revisit the issue.
“An awful lot happens in a week. Irish rugby has been good to me so you don’t walk away from that but we’ll see what’s in store. The other side of it is that I’m 34, new talent is coming through so we’ll see what happens, but you don’t ever turn your back on a great country.”
O’Callaghan, who was greeted by his wife Jenny and daughter Sophie, said the team were very aware of the great atmosphere they had helped to create back in Ireland.
“We were fully aware of the support at home, our team room was covered in faxes, the amount of text messages and cards from people at home and then the amount of Irish people that travelled out there as well was incredible.”
O’Callaghan said that once Ireland were out of the competition, he would have swum home to be with his family and friends. His grandmother Joan Roche died in Cork last Thursday and he wore a black armband for her during the Wales match.