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TOP International prospect Sean McNulty has returned to his rugby roots in Bahrain to thank the club which helped teach him to play the game he loves.
In a unique gesture of goodwill the strapping 18-year-old has presented Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) with the jersey he wore making his debut for Ireland against Italy in the 2014 RBS U20 Six Nations Championship.
He said: “BRFC is where I first learned rugby, so I am honoured to present them with my jersey as a sign of my appreciation. I always receive tweets and texts of best wishes from people in the club, they are my biggest supporters and I would just like to thank them.”
McNulty came on to the field of play as a substitute hooker for 30-minutes in the thrilling 18-0 victory at Dubarry Park. “Both the physical and speed aspects of the game were a massive step up. We won, so it was a great experience, especially in front of a home crowd in Ireland,” he told GulfWeekly.
Now a regular in the young Ireland squads, he says of all the internationals he has played so far the encounters against Australia, England and France have proved the most memorable but few things match the first time you put on your country’s shirt and he hopes it will inspire the next generation of rugby players in the kingdom.
Sean moved to Bahrain in 2006 when he was 10 after a spell in the US and went to school and played rugby here for two years before attending Rockwell College, a renowned rugby-playing boarding school in Ireland that continues to attract sports-loving expat schoolboys with families in the kingdom.
He is currently studying at University College Dublin and plays rugby for UCD and celebrated rugby side Munster. Sean has two sisters Ciara, 17, and Ella, 19, and his elder brother, Harry, 21, also plays rugby for Munster and has appeared for the young Ireland side.
His parents Aidan, a banker and businessman, and Sandra, now live back in Ireland although they regularly keep in touch with friends and business contacts in the region.
McNulty said: “Winning Irish caps has made my dad very proud. He also played a lot of rugby at my age so it is amazing to make him and my family proud of me. He is my biggest mentor and is always giving me advice.”
Officials at BRFC are pleased as punch at McNulty’s visit and will proudly display his international debut jersey in the clubhouse in Janabiyah.
Club chairman Mehdi Honar said: “We are very proud to see Sean’s hard work result in him being selected for Ireland U20.
“It takes special dedication and discipline to be selected and play for your country’s national team. All members of BRFC feel a deep pleasure and satisfaction as a result of his achievements.
“I congratulate Sean and wish him the best as he embarks on his next exciting adventure. His achievement is an example to us all and shows how commitment and hard work can pay off.
“The shirt will be framed and will hang in the club next to all the other shirts we have from visiting international players. But this shirt is from one of our own internationals and we are truly honoured by this. Thank you, Sean.
“In BRFC, we aim to provide a safe and healthy environment for our younger players with coaches who love and care for them in order to build strong self-esteem.
“It means a lot to the club, members, players and coaches when past young players call in to see us.
“Many of our coaches take time from their busy lives to come to the club and help with coaching our younger members in rugby, football, cricket, netball and many other sports and I’m sure that they also agree with me that receiving Sean’s first international rugby shirt, playing for Ireland U20, is really important and significant.”
