The Cork to Limerick jaunts are over.
Munster finally stopped all the messing, this summer, and settled on one training base.
The University of Limerick Arena is Munster’s headquarters now and there will be no more midweek jaunts back and forth to Cork. It only took them 21 years, since the game went pro and Munster followed.
Former Munster and Ireland flanker David Wallace believes the decision to work and train out of U.L will have a massive difference on Munster, this season and for seasons to come.
Looking back on the odd Monday and Thursday jaunts to Cork, Wallace shared with us another Peter Clohessy story to add to the infamous ‘Claw’ lore. He said:
“You used to have lads shooting off in all directions after training; looking to get back on the road and get home.
“What I do recall is you never wanted to get stuck, driving back, with Claw behind you. He’d be in his 4×4 and up to no good.
“He’d come up behind you, when you were parked at lights and push your car into the one in front. You’d bump off the next car and he’d spin off, leaving you to sort it.”
Insurance claims must have plummeted since Clohessy hung up his boots.
Looking ahead to the new season, Wallace is optimistic the new faces in the squad can step up to some mighty challenges ahead. “There are a couple of guys who’ve held their hand up – Stephen Fitzgerald, Dan Goggin and Bill Johnston, who is coming back from injury,” he says.
“Conor Oliver has done quite well. Add that to guys like Simon Zebo, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and more hitting those peak performances years and Munster should be in good shape.”
Wallace will be hoping his own fitness levels hold up when he sets off, this Sunday, on a 580-kilometre cycle from Dingle to Westport in aid of the cancer charity CROSS.
Wallace will be joined on the cycling endeavour by former rugby players such as Gordon D’Arcy, Mick Galwey, Mike Tindall, Mick O’Driscoll, his brother Paul Wallace and more.
