Fans Out In Force For Webb Ellis Cup

Over a thousand rugby fans from across out the province turned out Thomond Park yesterday to see rugby’s greatest prize, the Webb Ellis Cup, making it the most attended event of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour to date.

On June 10th, the date which marked 100 days to the World Cup’s opening match, the Trophy Tour embarked on a journey that will take in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and England before arriving at Twickenham Stadium on September 18 ahead of the tournament’s opening ceremony.

The province’s strong rugby tradition was well demonstrated in yesterday’s first-rate attendance at Thomond Park as excitement begins to build ahead of this autumn’s rugby showpiece.

Big crowd gathering already @thomondstadium to see rugby's greatest prize, the @rugbyworldcup trophy, on show till 11 pic.twitter.com/mQVIwgEjxi

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) June 21, 2015

In celebration of the trophy’s arrival, a total of twelve Minis teams got the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their Munster heroes and show their wares on the Thomond Park pitch in an U11 tag tournament. The clubs that took part on the day were; Shannon, Newcastle West, Kinsale, UL Bohs, Muskerry, Ballincollig, Youghal, Thomond, Cobh, Dungarvan, Young Munster and tournament winners on the day, Scariff.

Also, to mark Father’s Day, a number of dads put their kicking capabilities to the test in a penalty shoot-out competition. Michael Madden of Scariff, Co. Clare emerged as the father with the 'golden boot' and won a family portrait with the Webb Ellis Cup, framed and signed by members of the Ireland World Cup squad.

Minis teams from across Munster take part in the U11 tag tournament.

Joe Ahern from Ennis, Co. Clare takes part in the Father's Day penalty shootout.

Next up was Glen Guilfoyle from Dooradoyle in Limerick.

However, it was Michael Madden from Scariff, Co. Clare who took the spoils on the day.