O’Mahony stays calm amid Paris uncertainty as he waits for seeds to bear fruit

area, clearing the head.

“I can enjoy it. I’m lucky to have it. Some lads don’t have that physical outlet. Some guys in the squad are big into building Lego. You need something to have a release, to be comfortable relaxing with.

“I enjoy the physical activity of it and obviously in the height of summer, it is beautiful when everything is in full bloom, having a beer or coffee while looking at your work.”

His linear design may seem restrictive but imagination is allowed to flourish; recently, a delicate operation to transport a Japanese maple tree from his grandmother’s house was successfully completed. A stunning shape, with intricate stem structure, the intensely detailed leaves sparkle with ever-changing colour according to the season; but it is very old and susceptible to movement and the constant Irish winds.

“I was a kid when she got it but it’s almost 60-years-old now. You could lose it. It was an ordeal transplanting it. Hopefully it will take. The garden’s been all borders and flowers until now but I’m keen to grow my own food and stuff, I’m going to get a greenhouse and a vegetable plot,” he said.

We’re here to talk about the man and not the rugby player but a loose link is allowed; we tell him that the growth of a rose, the wounding thorns painfully pricking delicate skin, much resembles the growing pains of a new rugby team.

“That’s very deep,” he said, with a sideways look suggesting a return to the garden.

We’re not sure if 18-monthold Theo, a brother to Indie (3), will soon be allowed to occupy his father’s dressing room as Peter did as a five-year-old.

O’Mahony feels there are enough life lessons outside the back door.

“I love the aspect of giving the kids something to do, for them to be able to grow their own food,” he said.

“I think kids these days are a million miles away from that now.

“I just want to give them the ability to do a bit of growing, particularly stuff that’s quick during the summer, maybe a sunflower or perhaps a courgette.

“Indie got a great thrill after we planted an apple tree and