Europe Diary Day 14 - Sean the hurler 20 November, 2009 The Irish weather is doing its utmost best to upset preparations for the Flying Fijians as the team struggled to find a training ground yesterday morning - the one intended for use was closed because of the wet and windy conditions.

However the boys’ spirits remain high and during their lunchtime break the team was introduced to the Gaelic sport of hurling by Irish Fijian hurling star Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. It was an event organized by Fiji Rugby Union sponsor Digicel and despite being tired and worn out from their mornings exertions the players threw themselves into the hurling session with great aplomb.

Sean's heritage - mother Rotuman and father Irish - seems to have combined to produce a person who speaks like a Jamaican Rastafarian - his accent causing great mirth among the players.

In the afternoon it was back to the hard grind for the players, however there was a bit of release in the evening with the boys being treated to dinner out of the hotel. I think everyone appreciated getting out of the hotel confines for one night - even if it was only for a couple of hours.

However to be fair to the hotel – Radisson St. Helens< Dublin, I’d have to say that it's an absolutely brilliant hotel and as in Scotland everyone has looked after us extremely well.

At the hurling training session at lunch time Graham Dewes was introduced to Sean as also being a Rotuman. Sean looks at Graham and asks in perfect Rotuman - what island are you from? The rest of the team crack up laughing and poor Graham (being very much a kiwi Rotuman who's never learnt the language) is left scratching his head.

Sometimes we go right around the world only to be undone by one of our very own!

Take care all. Moce mada.