BYRNE’S ED FOR HEIGHTS

ONLY one thing would have topped Super Saturday off for Ed Byrne – the wish that his brother Bryan’s Bristol side had made it to the Premiership final.

Wasps prevented that dream scenario happening by winning their semi-final earlier in the month but it was still hard to keep the smile off Ed’s face on Saturday night.

After 28 months of ACL and patella tendon injury hell that ththe loosehead feafeared could ccost him his ccareer, he made his Ireland debut ooff the bench.

“It’s been a long road,” Byrne (inset) said, immediately thanking his family, friends and especially girlfriend Rebecca for their support through it all.

“Rebecca has been there since the start of the tough times, she didn’t know what she was signing herself up for but she’s been my rock in fairness.

“My brother Brian as well, the two of them have been huge for me, along with the rest of my family.

“And then obviously everyone at Leinster who saw what I had to go through, they played a big part in getting me through it and helping me.”

Byrne fought from Wednesday when he learned he was in the matchday 23 to the final whistle on Saturday to keep a lid on his emotions.

“It’s been a mad week,” the 27-year-old confessed, recalling how he had received a flood of texts after his selection.

“I was very emotional. On Saturday I was just trying to stay in the moment as much as I could and not let it get too much or over-think it.”

No doubt one of his most important conversations over the weekend was with Brian.

“I’ve been on to him a fair bit, obviously I rang him as soon as I got the email about getting into the squad and that was an emotional phone call,” said Byrne.

“He’s obviously doing well at Bristol, at one stage it looked as if he would be in a Premiership final and there was a lot of different stuff going on for both of us. I’m just delighted to see him going so well over there.”