Smashed! England rugby losers’ tough day on and off pitch
AFTER England’s rugby team saw their dream of a record 19 consecutive victories crushed in Dublin, the players no doubt needed cheering up.
But, if these pictures are anything to go by, the post-match party in Dublin was clearly as punishing as the Grand Slam-ending loss to Ireland itself.
Billy Vunipola, the giant forward, arrived at Dublin’s Russell Court Hotel in a sharp suit and tie at 12.45am yesterday as the city celebrated St Patrick’s Day weekend. But just over two hours later, he emerged looking distinctly worse for wear. Bleary-eyed Vunipola, 24, had to be helped to a car by a man thought to be a member of the squad’s security team.
The player, whose family comes from Tonga, was also wearing a cloth tied Polynesian-style around his waist.
The 13-9 defeat to Ireland may have cost England a place in the history books but they did have the solace of still being the Six Nations champions – not that it looked like much consolation yesterday.