Welcome home, lads…
Ireland’s planned homecoming celebration at the Aviva Stadium may have been scrapped due to adverse weather conditions, but Joe Schmidt’s men received a rapturous reception upon touching down in Dublin Airport on Sunday.
The Irish team enjoyed a different guard of honour to the ones they’re normally used to as airport staff provided a lively escort from the plane to the team bus.
The Grand Slam champions are home. #WelcomeHome #GrandSlam #SixNations #ShoulderToShoulder @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/PBAza3MOI5
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 18, 2018
It follows reports that coach Joe Schmidt was greeted with applause as he made his way through Heathrow Airport on Sunday afternoon.
Not quite the incredible homecoming ceremony Ireland’s Grand Slam heroes might have enjoyed from fans, but a warm welcome on a cold day, nonetheless.
Monday should also bring further joy with the official confirmation that Ireland have reached a best-ever rankings tally of 89.11 points, gaining further ground on world #1 rival New Zealand.
With that in mind, bring on the World Cup…
Welcome home Ireland's #GrandSlam & #SixNations Champions. Their flight EI159 from @HeathrowAirport had a special @DublinAirport guard of honour to escort it to its parking stand. #ShoulderToShoulder #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/KuycY402gx
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 18, 2018
