Parkes set to host the brother of all parties!
HADLEIGH PARKES is ready to start the party in Cardiff — along with his boozy brother who has flown 12,000 miles to see a Slam. The Wales centre, who was born in New Zealand, was man of the match in a dogged display against Scotland. He ended with a huge black-eye for his troubles, but it will not faze him for the Ireland finale. ‘I had six or seven stitches above the eye — I don’t really know for sure — and a couple in deep,’ said the 31-year-old after the 18-11 win. ‘But I can’t feel them at the moment, maybe because of the euphoria. My brother Scott flew into Edinburgh on Friday and he was on the whiskies, so I think he was feeling his head more than I am! He put a bit of pressure on — he booked this trip in August last year and he was saying “Are you going to make the team?” ‘I said I don’t know, but if I don’t we’ll have a bit of a holiday. He’s over on a tenday lads trip, so he’s superpumped about this week too. Some people go their whole careers without playing in a Grand Slam game. It’s going to be very exciting and pretty emotional for Warren Gatland in his last Six Nations. This is absolutely the sort of occasion I was hoping to be involved in when I broke into the squad.’