Ireland Rugby Squad Training, The Campus, Faro, Portugal 9/8/2023
Johnny Sexton chats with Roy Keane
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Ireland Rugby Squad Training, The Campus, Faro, Portugal 9/8/2023
Niall Horan with Robbie Henshaw and Conor Murray
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Ireland Rugby Squad Training, The Campus, Faro, Portugal 9/8/2023
Head coach Andy Farrell with Padraig Harrington
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Maeve McTaggart and Cian Tracey
A number of famous faces paid a visit to the Irish rugby training camp in Portugal today, just weeks out from the World Cup.
Roy Keane, who turns 52 this week, caught up with captain Johnny Sexton at The Campus in Faro as the squad continues their preparations with a “warm weather training camp.”
The pair’s relationship goes back a few years as Keane has previously been invited into camp to speak with the squad. Sexton is a huge United fan and has long been an admirer of Keane.
The session was well attended by Irish celebrities, as the football pundit was also joined by former boyband star Niall Horan and golfer Padraig Harrington.
Ireland Rugby Squad Training, The Campus, Faro, Portugal 9/8/2023
Niall Horan with Robbie Henshaw and Conor Murray
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Slow Hands singer Horan was pictured laughing alongside Robbie Henshaw and Connor Murray while Harrington walked alongside head coach Andy Farrell.
Ireland Rugby Squad Training, The Campus, Faro, Portugal 9/8/2023
Head coach Andy Farrell with Padraig Harrington
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
It is understood that Keane and Harrington are on family holidays in the Algarve, while Horan is in Portugal to play the music festival Meo Sudoeste in the nearby town, Zambujeira do Mar.
Horan hails from Mullingar and is friends with Ireland’s Athlone-born centre Robbie Henshaw, whose family have a strong musical background.
Ireland’s session included a hit out against the Portuguese national team, with Sexton heavily involved, as the 38-year-old continues his three-game suspension before likely returning for his side’s World Cup opener against Romania in Bordeaux on September 9.
In a statement yesterday, Irish Rugby said the squad had “landed in Portugal for their warm weather training camp as they prepare for the Bank of Ireland Nations series matches against England and Samoa this month.
On This Day In History – August 10th
“Fresh from their win against Italy in the opening game of the series the squad have moved to their regular base in Portugal where they will train this week before returning to Ireland for the match against England on August 19 in Aviva Stadium.”
The first warm-up match against Italy took place in Dublin last week, the first of two games at the Aviva Stadium before the World Cup begins in France on September 8.
Ireland will take on England on August 19.
The Irish team will play their final match of the series against Samoa at Stade Jean Dauger, the home of Bayonne rugby, on August 26.
Ireland’s Rugby World Cup campaign kicks off on September 9 against Romania, with their second Pool B clash against Tonga.
They will then face South Africa before their final group fixture against Scotland.
…. to be continued
Read full article at the Original Source
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Independent.ie – https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/roy-keane-niall-horan-and-padraig-harrington-join-irish-rugby-world-cup-prep-in-portugal/a274727949.html
