Ireland’s rugby stars: they’re just like you and me, really

What are you doing for the last day or two before Christmas? Whatever it is, it’s probably exactly the same as some of Irish rugby's biggest stars.

You might have the feeling that the life of a professional sportsman is a gilded one, with minions looking after your every whim as you admire the gold taps in a kitchen that spans about half an acre of ground.

But you’d be wrong, of course. Because professional sportsman, most of them anyway, are exactly like you and me. Or the Ireland rugby players are, in any case.

Here’s what some of them were up to on Friday evening as the clock ticked down towards Christmas. You were probably doing something very similar yourself, right?

1. Sean Cronin and his television:

 

2. Tommy Bowe and his Christmas shopping:

 

3. Rob Kearney and his mammy’s cooking: