As if life could get any better, Irish rugby star reveals his love for Aston Villa

Get to one FA Cup final and all the Villa jerseys come out.

Ulster Rugby tried out a novel use of the Periscope app today as they ran a brief Q&A with one of their young stars, at Kingspan Stadium. The province, who entertain Leinster at the ground formerly known as Ravenhill, on Friday, caught up with out-half Paddy Jackson. Jackson was not all all convinced that his answers were going out live to the world but, once he was assured the camera phone was rolling, he offered some insights from his 23-year-old mind. Already the star of the 'JCB' cover and a rap video with Simon Zebo, on Ireland's tour to Argentina, Jackson says he will not be cutting any more tracks until the summertime at the very earliest. Asked about his favourite football team, Jackson replied, 'I used to live in Birmingham, so it would be Aston Villa.' First Tim Sherwood, then an FA Cup final, now this. Heady days for Villa. Sky Sports, who happened to be miles away from Belfast, send on a couple of questions, seeking predictions for the upcoming European finals. For the record, Jackson is going for Gloucester in the Challenge Cup and Clermont - after initially saying Toulon - for the Champions Cup. So, that is Paddy Jackson for Villa, Paul O'Connell supporting Everton and Rob Kearney a big Manchester United fan. As for Sean O'Brien, wonder what he makes of the game he calls "soccer"? 'I absolutely hate soccer,' he once declared. 'I think they get paid way too much money for what they do, and they’re jumping and rolling around half the time.'