CHILD’S PLAY TO BEALHAM
Lowe says pal Finlay is now daddy cool as a hectic week ended with a baby bounce
FINLAY Bealham had a week like no other last week – and James Lowe says the big prop took it all in his stride.
Bealham became a dad for the first time last Tuesday evening when his wife Sarah gave birth to a baby boy, Joaquin.
Having got the call, the 32-year-old hightailed it home to Galway for the birth.
But he was soon back in Ireland camp to continue preparations for the clash with Italy – and on Sunday the Connacht star made his first start at Test level since the
World Cup warm-up against Samoa last
August.
Bealham performed to the high level that saw him start the first three games of last year’s championship as Tadhg Furlong was sidelined through injury, and he came off the bench in the last four of Ireland’s five World Cup games at France 2023.
“He took it in his stride as well,” explained Lowe (inset) of Bealham’s manic week. “He got a phone call and was in the car – then sort of nothing was heard.
“I heard in the morning (about the birth) and just flicked him a message saying, ‘I hope everything is alright’.
“Then we got off the (training) pitch and there was a photo of bubba in our team chat.
“Little bubba Bealham running around. “So yeah, he’s stoked. I’m absolutely stoked for him.
“It is a baptism of fire having a child, the first few nights, you have no idea what the craic is. There is no book that can teach you anything.”
Lowe says that the presence of family around Ireland camp, as encouraged by Andy Farrell, has been vital to the success that the defending Grand Slam champions have had.
“It’s a big part of it, getting wives and partners involved because, at the end of the day, they’re the ones who probably cop most of it,” he said.
“Whether you’re having a good or a bad day, they’re a bit of a sounding board. My wife is pretty good at it.
“When we win, they win as well, because they’re holding down the fort at home.
“There’s a lot of kids running around. Everyone’s kids are down there. It’s cool, it’s really, really cool.”
Lowe – who scored one of the six tries against the Italians – is happy with where Ireland’s game is.
“We’re just in a good place at the moment and doing the basics right. Our set-piece has been outstanding these last two weeks.
“To go away to Marseille and for our forwards to deliver the way they did and again on Sunday, in the way that they did, it makes it easier as a back line to get a bit of front-foot ball.”