Dan Sheehan makes hilarious admission about Six Nations rival and Lions teammate Ellis Genge
DAN Sheehan admits he was surprised to learn fellow Lion Ellis Genge is 'not a d***head'.
The front-row rivals have joined forces Down Under, with both players strong contenders to start the First Test against Australia on July 19.
Advertisement
2
Sheehan will be hungry for more silverware after Leinster's URC win
2
Genge started as loosehead prop for the Lions against Argentina
And Ireland hooker Sheehan confessed: 'It's mad how fast you can go from despising people to hanging around with them and going for coffee.
'Genge would be a good one. He's a passionate, animated player for England and someone who we, as Ireland, would need to target.
"Now he's one person you enjoy having on the team. And he's a funny bloke off the pitch. Everyone loves him. You can see the passion he brings to meetings, on to the pitch and in the scrum.
'He's definitely someone that surprises you that he's not a d***head.'
Advertisement
Read more on Irish sport
As part of the Leinster team
The 26-year-old is hoping for his Lions debut in Saturday's collision with Western Force. He added: 'I want to feel I can contribute to the jersey.'
The Blues star says the biggest challenge facing head coach Andy Farrell is gelling together players from four different nations.
He added: 'Test rugby is so detailed, every inch of the game we play today is so hyper-detailed that it's tricky to do in two weeks.
Advertisement
Most read in Rugby Union
'You saw that in Dublin. Getting that all working together is what Faz has been labouring on with us already.
"There's so much talent in the room and how we get it on to the pitch is the main challenge of the tour.'
'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Martin O'Neill fires hilarious dig at ‘vitriolic critic' Keith Andrews amid rumoured Brentford appointment
MARTIN O'Neill has hit out at pundit-turned-coach Keith Andrews who was previously critical of O'Neill during his management career. Keith Andrews looks in line to make the 2 The 44-year-old is in line for his first management position 2 Andrews' comments have left a lasting impact on the former Celtic and Aston Villa boss Despite having no previous management experience, the former Ireland star looks set to land the Premier League head coach position. Andrews coached at MK Dons, Sheffield United, the Republic of Ireland and Brentford since his punditry during the O'Neill Ireland era. O'Neill recalls Andrews' time as a pundit which overlapped his Ireland tenure. Speaking to Read more on Irish football "He was really dead against me trying to use set-pieces to try to win games. "The irony is he becomes the set-piece coach. Really I say good luck to him. Brentford have decided, if it is the case, that he should get it. "I hope he does get it because then he will realise what management is all about. While Andrews was a Sky Sports pundit, he was particularly critical of O'Neill's tactics and put the entirety of the blame on him for Ireland's poor form following Euro 2016. Most read in Football The two-time European Cup winner took a sly dig at Andrews' inferior footballing career. While Andrews boasts an impressive CV including Premier League football, his biggest honours arguably came in the 2007/08 season with MK Dons when he won the Football League Trophy as well as topping League Two. Saipan film trailer splits opinion as Irish football fans voice concern about Roy Keane portrayal The eight-time Premier League Manager of the Month gloated: "It's not as easy to be sitting in a pundit's chair sitting to criticise someone who in all honesty had a much better career than he had. "He was dealing at the bottom end of it when I was winning the European Cup. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be criticising. Everyone to their own. But it'll be a different ball game now. It wasn't only negativity from O'Neill for the mastermind behind Brentford's 13 set-piece goals this season. He praised some of Andrews' work throughout the season which helped Brentford to a 10th place finish in the Premier League. The 73-year-old added: "In terms of some of the decisions he has made, I think he has done very well as the set-piece coach. A lot of credit has gone to him for the fast starts Brentford have made in games. "He is stepping into an unknown. It's all very well when you can be the friend of the players. "You can have the set-pieces, you can be the coach sitting there in the room. It's a different ball game when you're making the big decisions." The Bees' 13 set-piece goals puts them in the top five in the Premier League in that category - behind just Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and level with Arsenal. Andrews will be hoping to transfer some of his set-piece successes into a successful time in charge of Brentford, if he is to get the role.
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Palestinian GAA clubs to visit Dublin on cultural and sporting exchange
The tour, running from July 18 to August 1, will see 47 participants travelling to Dublin, this includes 33 children aged between 9 and 16. The initiative is organised by GAA Palestine, a grassroots movement founded just over a year ago and supported by a number of Irish GAA clubs and volunteers. The itinerary includes matches, sightseeing and shared cultural experiences with local clubs. In Dublin, the group will begin with a four-night stay hosted by families from Fingallians GAA and Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels. Highlights include a VIP tour of Croke Park with GAA President Jarlath Burns, a visit to Dublin Zoo, and a trip to the beach—many for the first time. Fingallians GAA Club chairman Charlie Rogan said the idea of welcoming the group 'just made sense'. 'Everyone belongs, no matter where you're from,' he told the Irish Independent. 'We've had lots of members coming behind this. These young lads and girls are travelling from the West Bank to Egypt, then on to Ireland. 'Most won't have met their host families before, but they'll be well looked after, coached by our club and introduced to a packed few days,' he added. After Dublin, the group will travel through Carlow to Thurles, Co Tipperary—the birthplace of the GAA—where they'll tour Semple Stadium and take part in a blitz at Dr Morris Park alongside clubs like Burgess, Drom & Inch and Borris-Ileigh. They'll then head to Cork, where activities include a boat tour of Bantry Bay and a train ride to Cobh—both firsts for many of the children. They'll also visit Páirc Uí Chaoimh and take part in a Palestinian solidarity march on July 26, led by local children and the touring party. Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels are also playing host and will welcome the group around the time of the All-Ireland final. Hughie Cullen a member of organising committee in the club said that hosting the GAA clubs from the West Bank was something everyone in the community was excited about. 'A lot of our members had been going to the national marches, calling for peace,' he said. 'When GAA Palestine reached out, we were only too happy to jump in. For us, it's a humanitarian thing.' Mr Cullen said the club is preparing a warm welcome that includes a mix of Irish and Palestinian food. He added: 'We've got spice boxes, fish and chips—and hopefully a local Palestinian chef cooking a traditional dish.' The club have also set up a fundraiser to help support the GAA Palestine Summer Tour with some of the funds helping to buy equipment such as hurls and helmets for the Palestinian GAA clubs. The group also plans to visit County Clare with host club Éire Óg before a final potential leg north to Belfast and Derry—though that leg depends on visa approvals. GAA Palestine founder Stephen Redmond thanked volunteers and donors who have supported the effort. 'I want to express my deepest thanks to every volunteer who has given their time and heart to support GAA Palestine, and to each and every person who has generously donated to our fundraiser—your solidarity means the world,' he said. 'We're also truly grateful to our amazing partners: Paddywagon, Forsa, O'Neills. Their support has helped turn our vision into reality.' He's also calling on political representatives to support what he describes as a 'common-sense approach' to allowing access to the North for Palestinian athletes. 'It's not safe or right to ask children to travel dangerous roads in the West Bank just to attend interviews and then pay around £10,000 for visas for a two-night stay. We need solutions that prioritise care and safety.' The first Palestinian GAA club, Moataz Sarsour GAA, was formed in Ramallah in 2023 and named after a 17-year-old player who was killed by Israeli forces shortly after his first training session. Since then, the movement has grown steadily, with four clubs now operating in the West Bank. The visa applications are currently with the Department of Justice, which GAA Palestine says is a welcome development. The department contacted GAA officials last week seeking further information, suggesting that the process is under way. However, organisers remain uncertain about how long it will take, with growing concern that the necessary approvals may not be issued in time. They are now appealing to anyone with connections in the department to help expedite the process ahead of the group's planned arrival on July 18.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Underage star Killian Cahill reveals he joined Leyton Orient on the advice of Ireland teammate
IRELAND Under-21 goalkeeper Killian Cahill revealed Josh Keeley's reference convinced him to join Leyton Orient from Brighton. 2 The Meath native had been at Brighton since 2022 2 Keeley had a impressive season for the O's even popping up with a goal The former Shamrock Rovers academy product joined the Seagulls as an 18-year-old where he trained with the first team and featured in EFL Trophy games. But he has switched to Brisbane Road keen to get first-team experience in a side that only missed out on promotion from League One last season in the play-off final. Cahill said: 'I can't wait to get going and I'm really excited to join Leyton Orient. I spoke to Josh a lot last season, so feel like I know quite a bit about the club already. 'His journey here last season is a real inspiration; coming in as a young goalkeeper to fight for his place and taking his chance when it came. Read more on Irish football 'If I get an opportunity to play then I want to take it and help the club to have another good season.' 'We needed to add a couple of goalkeepers to our squad with Josh Keeley and Sam Howes departing, and Killian will add real competition to that department. 'Killian is a long-term investment for the football club, and we are continuing with our recruitment process with the start of pre-season approaching us." Most read in Football Saipan film trailer splits opinion as Irish football fans voice concern about Roy Keane portrayal
