IT’S BACK TO the grindstone for Ireland’s best and brightest rugby players this week. Preparation for the World Cup didn’t really come to a full stop over the summer, so it can’t exactly begin now, but it does get serious as pre-season training takes hold.
Here’s how Ireland’s internationals wound down over their summer off.
First on the menu, some well-deserved deviation from the nutritional plan
It helps to be in the USA for maximised calorific-ness!
Summer's over: Here's how your favourite Irish rugby stars spent their holidays
IT’S BACK TO the grindstone for Ireland’s best and brightest rugby players this week. Preparation for the World Cup didn’t really come to a full stop over the summer, so it can’t exactly begin now, but it does get serious as pre-season training takes hold.
Here’s how Ireland’s internationals wound down over their summer off.
First on the menu, some well-deserved deviation from the nutritional plan
It helps to be in the USA for maximised calorific-ness!
jamieheaslip / InstagramIain Henderson and Stu Olding took in their hot dogs at an LA Dodgers game. Always with the sport.
hendy_102 / InstagramThis place was always going to lure in Proper Church.
properchurch / InstagramON WITH THE HOLLIERS!
Jamie Heaslip started off in San Francisco…
… before becoming a walking Will Smith song by hitting the Caribbean seas and then, hopping on a jet-ski (lounging by the palm trees etc).
jamieheaslip / InstagramHalf the Ulster squad went to America too
pjackson10 / Instagram
Well, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson, Craig Gilroy and Stuart Olding (plus their friend John Elliot) at least.
Iain Henderson hopped on the greatest bandwagon in sport by buying a Golden State Warriors hat. Jackson kept closer to his roots.
hendy_102 / InstagramBut like anyone with an Irish complexion, he needed bigger hat.
hendy_102 / InstagramCian Healy hit Vegas, and the gym!
Just to keep it all ticking over.
properchurch / InstagramConor Murray got stuck into a book in Portugal
We can’t be sure, but it looks like Red Notice by Bill Browder to us, a heavy enough read.
conormurray9 / Instagram
conormurray9 / Instagram
And the gang got back together to collectively dread pre-season while at Johne Murphy’s wedding.
conormurray9 / Instagram
Sean O’Brien spent most of the last month raising awareness about farm safety.
seanobrien678 / InstagramNot to mention, practicing what he preached.
seanobrien678 / InstagramAll good things must come to an end
After Mike Ross shipped out of Ireland and into Boston, the return to reality was more real than he expected this week.
Bring on the World Cup so.
properchurch / InstagramThere’s an exciting sevens competition coming to Dublin this summer
Scotland’s World Cup jerseys are here and they involve tartan
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back to the grindstone Cian Healy Conor Murray Craig Gilroy Editor's picks england 2015 Jamie Heaslip Mike Ross Paddy Jackson Rugby World Cup rwc 15 Sean O'Brien sporting summer Stuart Olding summer holidays