THE CONNACHT rugby mascot who was injured when he was tackled by an exuberant Glasgow fan at the weekend has been unveiled as a brother of Irish hooker Seán Cronin.
Colm Cronin was celebrating his 21st birthday on Friday night when he suffered a dislocated shoulder after being floored by a kilt-wearing Glasgow Warriors fan.
But the University of Limerick industrial biochemistry student will be back wearing the Eddie the Eagle costume for Connacht’s next home match against Benetton Treviso.
On Friday night, as Connacht romped home to a 37-8 win over Glasgow, the mascot was the victim of a blindside tackle from a Glasgow supporter who leapt over the perimeter fence. “I just didn’t see him coming, one minute I was running and then bang! I know he didn’t mean any harm but it was sore,” said Mr Cronin.
He said that in the first few months of performing his duties, older brother Seán was blissfully unaware that he was doing it, even though he would often throw the ball back to the Connacht hooker when it would go out of play.