'A huge honour' - Westmeath sports therapist works with Fijian rugby team

A Mullingar sports massage therapist landed her biggest clients figuratively and literally last week when she was tasked with providing the eve of match therapy to members of the Fijian team that took on Ireland in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Elaine McCormack, owner of Gemini Beauty Parlour and the recently opened Pearse Street Sports Clinic, is a qualified sports massage and physical events therapist. She is also currently studying neuromuscular therapy and will be fully qualified next month. She and three of her fellow graduates from the National Training Centre were hired to give pre-event sports massages to members of the Fijian team at their Dublin hotel after their captain's run-out in the Aviva Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Although used to working with athletes, this was Elaine's first time to work with an international sporting team.

"It was absolutely the best of experience of my life. They gave us tickets to go to the match and were a super bunch of lads.

"This is a huge honour and the team have asked me back to do there next pre event therapy. It is such an honour to be selected and a huge boost to my practice," Elaine said.