20 QUESTIONS Eoghan Masterson
1: Pre-match meal?
Beans on toast. Generally, I don’t like to eat too much too close to game time.
2: Favourite player growing up?
Jonah Lomu was my hero growing up. He was the first superstar in modern rugby and scored so many great tries during his relatively short career.
3. Best away day room-mate and why?
James Cannon is a great room-mate. He’s clean and tidy and most importantly he doesn’t snore!
4. Who would headline your houseparty? Finlay Bealham – He would be a great MC. I don’t think he is much of a singer though. 5. First song they would play?
He probably wouldn’t sing himself but I’d leave that up to him.
6. You win the Lotto, first thing you would buy?
I would buy a yacht and sail all over the world on it. I might bring a few of the lads along with me as well to help out with scrubbing the deck and all the jobs.
7. Favourite movie?
I think everyone has this one in their top three, but it’s hard to beat The Shawshank Redemption in my eyes. It’s one of those classics that you can watch over and over and still enjoy the ending!
8. Favourite TV show and why?
I loved Breaking Bad. Bryan Cranston who plays the main character Walter White was excellent. I’m on the look-out for some good recommendations again though.
9. Earliest rugby memory growing up?
My earliest memory was going to my first rugby training session aged five. I grew up in Portlaoise and I have some great memories of playing underage rugby there.
10. Who is the joker in the dressing room?
There is good few comedians in the squad, but JP Cooney and Dominic RobertsonMcCoy keep us constantly entertained. Sometimes they don’t realise their own humour.
11. Favourite holiday destination and why?
My favourite and most memorable holiday for me was to Arranmore Island off Donegal. It was a family holiday I went on when I was a kid and it always stands out. It’s definitely on the list to be seen again at some stage.
12. Favourite away ground to play at?
I love Wasps home ground the Ricoh Arena. We played there recently actually in a pre-season friendly in Kieran Keane’s first game as head coach. The surface is incredible and it would be great to play there with a packed house.
13. Three people (dead or alive) who you would invite to your dinner party?
I would love to spend time with Muhammad Ali, Neil deGrasse Tyson, the American author, and Frankie Boyle for the entertainment factor.
14. Most memorable moment in rugby?
The PRO12-winning season with Connacht was a huge stand out moment. Also, my comeback from a very serious knee injury I suffered in 2016 was a huge moment. I was out for a while going through rehabilitation so it was great to get back playing.
15. Do you have any pre-match superstitions / rituals?
No I can’t say I have any superstitions but I do generally try to keep the same routine. This obviously varies depending on whether we are playing at home or away.
16. Who is the best player you have played alongside and why?
Tadhg Fulong is a phenomenal player. I played with him for Ireland U-18s. I was delighted to see him get the recognition he deserves when he played for the Lions this summer.
17. Who is the best player you have played against and why?
As a back rower, I found Taulupe Faletau to be a particularly tough competitor. When we played the Dragons he gave a powerful performance.
18. Can you tell us an interesting fact about yourself?
I haven’t watched a single minute of Game of Thrones.
19. Name three things that are always in your fridge?
Milk, spinach and salmon.
20. Best advice you ever got?
Always learn from your setbacks and failures.