Irish rugby panel to train at Mullingar RFC on February 19

Mullingar Rugby Club will have the best possible showcase for its new facilities and 4G pitches next month, when it gets the chance to host the Irish rugby team ahead of its RBS Six Nations Championship kick-off.

Irish head coach Joe Schmidt - whose coaching career started in Mullingar and at Wilson's Hospital, Multyfarnham during the early 1990s - will bring his troops to Shay Murtagh Park, Cullion on Friday February 19 for an open training session.

The news was revealed today by James Murphy, president of Mullingar RFC, who said that the training session will be open to club members and the general public from 9.30am on the morning of February 19.

"This is a great honour for Mullingar, and acknowledges the great work done by our members and sponsors in developing the training and playing facilities at Shay Murtagh Park," Mr Murphy said.

The training session will take place after Ireland's RBS Six Nations opener away to France on February 13, and ahead of the trip to Twickenham to face England on Saturday February 27. These two crucial games will give an indication as to whether or not Ireland will annex an historic third consecutive Six Nations title.

Tickets for the open training session will be administered by the IRFU through Ticketmaster (at no cost), and only valid ticket holders will be allowed access to the grounds on the morning of February 19.

Further ticket details will follow.