It resembled a scene from Zulu Dawn, children streaming from every corner of Anglesea Road to converge on the Leinster players for what proved to be a well-organised, well-run open day. The players sported patient smiles as they signed autographs for about 600 children and some shameless parents. John O'Sullivan reports.
"Honestly, it's for my son, he couldn't be here today," or "he's a few cousins that'd love to have your autograph" were some of the comments heard. There was no doubting the star attraction, even if for Brian O'Driscoll time was of the essence. Officially due to arrive at 1.30 p.m. for a half-hour signing session before being whisked to the airport and a flight to London for the IRB awards ceremony, he lingered to sign autographs for all those that queued.
A few of the stewards who work Donnybrook on match days had been drafted in for the occasion to guarantee that an orderly line was formed and, in the interest of safety, O'Driscoll was allocated a portakabin. Queuing to see Santa? This was far more important for these rugby imps.
Invariably those youngsters unaware of the Ireland captain's whereabouts were not shy about finding out even if it trampled on the sensibilities of some of the other players. "Hi, what's your name. Can I have your autograph and could you tell me where Brian O'Driscoll is please?"
A little bit of prescience on the part of the Leinster rugby team's press officer Tom McCormack ensured that there weren't too many of the afore-mentioned conversations. He had pre-printed autograph books with the players' names and pictures and also team posters and another that read, "I trained with the Leinster Lions."
Leinster coach Matt Williams offered the players a little pep talk beforehand, possibly suggesting that none of the kids were to be squashed or dropped during the clinics and that these were head-to-heads that the players were allowed to lose.
Various clinics were conducted for the first part of the afternoon. You could learn to throw a ball like hookers Shane Byrne and Gavin Hickie under their tuition, or pass a ball into the practise net encouraged by scrumhalves Brian O'Meara, Brian O'Riordan, Benny Willis and Simon Keogh.
Keith Glesson and Malcolm O'Kelly manned the tackle bags, Shane Horgan and David Quinlan did a little catching and kicking, so too Girvan Dempsey, Gordon D'Arcy and Peter McKenna, while Denis Hickie administered a passing drill.
Perhaps the longest queue for any drill was the opportunity to be lifted, lineout style, by Niall Breslin, Aidan McCullen, Liam Toland, Victor Costello and Des Dillon with Aidan Kearney throwing in the ball. It proved so popular that two well known ladies of the Leinster Branch took their turn alongside the youngsters.
Once the on-field entertainment was finished, those still missing autographs could file into the Old Belvedere clubhouse and visit all the players, seated at stations around a room. An exercise that was due to run from two to four o'clock eventually finished at 5.30 p.m., with the players badly in the need of their Powerade and pizza.
The day also managed to draw excellent donations of rugby gear for Romania from clubs and schools. Anyone still wishing to make a contribution can contact the Leinster Branch.
