LIMERICK’S James Smith (9) will lead Ireland into battle against Australia next weekend at the Aviva Stadium. James was selected from hundreds of possible “mascots” as part of an online competition by Aviva, sponsor of the Aviva Mini Rugby Festivals, to walk the team out against the Wallabies on Saturday evening.
The Garryowen FC U-10 player is a rugby fanatic has been playing the game since he was 5-years-old and attends most of the Munster rugby matches at Thomand Park. For the recent emotional Champions Cup game against Glasgow at Thomand, James got “Axel” stitched onto his jersey so he could commemorate the late Anthony Foley in the same way the players would.
James’ mum Catherine said; “I’m so excited for James that he gets the opportunity to be the mascot and lead the team on the Aviva pitch. He plays rugby all the time and when he is not playing it, he’s watching it and we’ve been on so many trips with him. He’s seen Ireland nearly beat the All-Blacks last time and was at Brian O’Driscoll’s last game too. He was only 5 or 6 years old when he demanded his passport one evening as he said he would need it to go on the Summer Tour with the team. Aviva have made his dreams come true with this prize.”
A keen Aviva Mini Rugby player, James is hoping to follow in the footsteps of many other Irish rugby legends who have played Mini Rugby growing up and become heores in the Irish team; “My dream is to play scrum half for Munster, Ireland and the Lions like my hero Conor Murray. I’m so excited to be able to walk out with the team and stand on the Aviva pitch with them.”
The Aviva Mini Rugby Festivals took place across the country in October and will be returning again in 2017 including an Aviva Mini Rugby National Festival at the Aviva Stadium next May when the Heroes of Tomorrow will get a chance to play on the same pitch as the Heroes of Today.
