EARLS: IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME
MUNSTER legend Keith Earls said that winning the URC title in South Africa and returning home to a reception from over 10,000 fans at Thomond Park was a dream come true.
The 35-year-old, who may have played his final game for Munster in the 19-14 win over the Stormers on Saturday, was the first player on the ground in Limerick on Monday morning.
The team bus arrived at 10am and an hour later Earls had the trophy in Milford National School where his children attend.
The Irish international, to chants of ‘one more year, one more year’, was given a joyous welcome when he was introduced to the crowd, who had started gathering at Thomond Park around 4.30pm.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Earls.
“I grew up 500 metres from here. I don’t really care about the medals and the trophy it’s all about the province of Munster. We are delighted to do it for them, it has been a long time.
“Getting over the wall here after school every day, kicking the ball around and then getting to lift the trophy here with the lads in front of a few thousand, it’s magic.”
Earls said this win, after 12 years without a trophy, was particularly special for older players such as himself, Peter O’mahony, Stephen Archer and Conor Murray.
“It has been a long time, it has been 12 years. It is a privilege to share the pitch with them. I know some of the lads cannot be here, Conor Murray is getting married next week. He’s under savage pressure! We’ll enjoy it,” added Earls.
Head coach Graham Rowntree promised the fans that this win was just the start for Munster, and that they will have gained so much from the way they had to win it with their final six games away from home.
“This won’t sink in for a long time, they won’t realise it,” said Rowntree. “There is no other team has done this, six games away from home. And no one will ever do it again. But we will find a hard way to do it next time!
“And what that gives you as a player is the belief, you become bulletproof. And you go and play teams and they are scared of you. I mean, we should have put them away by half-time on Saturday.
“This group will fight and I am just so proud of them. We are ready for this and this group of players are ready for this. It will only get better, I promise you that. This will only get better.”