Johnny Sexton and Caelan Doris present Dublin rugby team with jerseys ahead of Special Olympics tour to France

A 28-strong contingent from the St Mary’s Stars rugby team will head to Paris this week to take part in the event with teams across Europe.

The inclusive rugby team was re-introduced only this season and has been a big success for the south Dublin club.

The players were presented with their specially commissioned Stars jerseys at the club last week by former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton and current Ireland player, Caelan Doris.

Sexton, who also played for St Mary’s College RFC, told the Stars: “It’s a pleasure to be here to present you guys with your jersey, I know you’re going over representing Marys, but also representing Ireland and that’s amazing.

“It’s an honour for you guys and I hope it goes well for you. I hope you all enjoy it and you’ve made all of your families very proud so that’s the main thing, I wish you all the best with it”.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st May 2024

The squad of 10 players, three coaches, and 15 carers will travel to Paris on Thursday for the tournament involving 22 teams from countries including France, Switzerland, Georgia, Romania and Italy

The travelling squad will be met at Dublin Airport by DAA staff where the players will be given the “full VIP treatment” before arriving in Paris to be met by Special Olympics France.

On Friday, the opening parade and ceremony will take place at the grounds of Top 14 side Racing 92, ahead of the tournament that weekend.

Head coach Robbie O’Neill said that when he was approached by the IRFU to bring an inclusion team to the Special Olympics event, he “accepted without hesitation”.

The St Mary’s Stars Inclusion team had only been formed at the beginning of the season, starting with a few players but increasing to over 20, with plans in place to develop an U15 inclusion team and a second senior team.

The team is organised with the help of Stewart’s Care and the coaching staff includes Ireland U20 Grand Slam winning captain Charlie Ryan.

The Stars players heading to Paris are Charlie O'Neill, Robert Cummins, Ryan Perry, Derek Dartnell, Oisin Gilmartin. Thomas Nichol, Cian Barnes, Lorcan Tully, Sammy Kratschmar and Eoin Tully.

Robbie O’Neill said: “Alex Dix has also since joined the coaching team and brings so much to our training sessions. Ronan Watters, our first team captain, is a regular at the Stars training sessions along with several other first team players.

“It truly gives an amazing feeling of one great club. I explained it to a friend recently that it’s like reading about what great looks like within a club and then realising that it just happens to be our club. I could not be prouder of the players and all involved in the club.”

He added that it is “one of the greatest honours of my life to be head coach” representing his country, sport and club, adding that they would represent the club with pride and passion in Paris.