Shaun Payne – Player Profile

With Munster kicking off their season with the friendly in Thomond Park against Rotherham, we begin a series of Player Profiles beginning with a player who was born in South Africa.

With Munster kicking off their season with the friendly in Thomond Park against Rotherham, we begin a series of Player Profiles beginning with a player who was born in South Africa, whose Irish roots are in County Sligo and who has played Super 12 with Natal Sharks and Heineken Cup rugby with Swansea.

Shaun Payne (31) joins Munster having spent the past number of seasons with Welsh club Swansea whom he joined having previously played 90 times for Natal Sharks. His fathers mother hails from Sligo and Shaun arrives in Ireland accompanied by his wife Michelle and 16 month old son Dylan.

Munster Player Profile:

Name: Shaun Payne.

Star Sign: Pisces.

Place of Birth: Cape Town, South Africa.

Where/when first played rugby: Schools rugby as a six year old.

Other sport that I play now: Golf. Squash.

Other sport I ve played: Cricket.

Best part of being a pro rugby player: Travelling. Playing sport for a living.

Worst part of being a pro rugby player: Pre-season training. Limited number of playing years.

Worst job ever: Bank clerk.

Biggest influence on rugby career: Ian McIntosh and my Dad.

Rugby player I admire most: Danie Gerber.

Other sportsperson I admire most: Lance Armstrong.

Other than Munster the side I would like to have played for: Canterbury Crusaders.

Favourite soccer team: Arsenal.

One rule change to make rugby more attractive: Simplify the breakdown.

Career choice other than rugby: IT.

Career when rugby career is complete: IT.

Ireland, excepted, your fancy to win the RWC: New Zealand.

It s the end of the season and you ve been offered a choice of, All expenses paid week-long one-to-one warm weather clinic with Alan Gaffney

Or

All expenses paid week long one-to-one warm weather clinic with Jeannifer Lopez.

Your decision and why ?:

I d go with Alan. Why ? I think it would be much better for my marriage.

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Next week we look at a Manchester United supporter, whose worst experience was picking potatoes.