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21st Mar 2017

WATCH: Donncha O’Callaghan on the perks of rooming with Ronan O’Gara

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Brought to you by TV3.

All Ireland internationals are equal, but some are more equal than others.

When Donncha O’Callaghan started rooming with Ronan O’Gara in Ireland camp, he soon realised there were some advantages.

Firstly, access to ROG’s well-stocked toilet bag and toothbrush (don’t ask) and, secondly, an all-expenses paid trip on ‘The Yellow Brick Road’.

When legendary kitman Rala O’Reilly was in charge, ROG and then Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll wanted for nothing – as O’Callaghan explains on tonight’s episode of The Clubhouse on TV3 (10.30pm).

“ROG and Drico had privileges that nobody else had. To rumble the whole thing, they had this thing called ‘The Yellow Brick Road’ with Rala, so you put your laundry down the Yellow Brick Road.

“Everyone else had to have their laundry down by 3 o’clock or 5 o’clock and it was just thrown out and you had to find your socks,” said the former Munster lock.

“Not for Drico, not for ROG. Down the Yellow Brick Road, perfectly folded, hanging up in their rooms. When I started rooming with ROG it was, ‘Throw that down the Yellow Brick Road as well!'”

Rala is a guest on next week’s episode of The Clubhouse, so be sure not to miss that.

Also on tonight’s show, O’Callaghan describes the cathartic experience that was attending Munster’s Champions Cup victory the day after Anthony Foley’s funeral.

“I went to that game and it was medicine. I would have done anything to play in that game, and so would Denis Leamy, John Kelly, any of those guys. I think it was such a big emotional week and the only thing that galvanised and brought us all together was that match.

“You felt so nervous for that group of lads and how they went out and reflected the whole lot of us, I was just bursting with pride.

“After the match, I don’t know what happened, I just ended up in the dressing room, hugging guys and just thanking them. Afterwards I was embarrassed, just asking ‘What are you doing, man?'”

The next episode of The Clubhouse will be aired on TV3 at 10.30pm tonight. 

The Clubhouse has teamed up with the Heineken Rugby Club to provide a weekly on-air competition which will send lucky winners to the Champions Cup final in Edinburgh in May. The Heineken Rugby Club offers exclusive rugby content and your chance to win prizes, tickets and more at the Heineken Rugby Club website