Junior Club Job For a Day – The Reactions!

A select group of five Junior Members had their dreams come true when they got to go behind the scenes at the RSC Waterford and assist the Munster team, staff and MRSC volunteers at Munster v Zebre in the first game of the Kearys Renault Series.

Events Assistant: Brian Hubbard, Cork (Age 12).

Brian helped Event Manager Elaine Williams organise the smooth running of match day activities in the RSC Waterford. One of his main duties was choosing and presenting the Man of the Match award.

"The day I became events assistant for the Munster v Zebre game in Waterford RSC was the best day of my life! I was so exited the morning before the match my stomach was full of butterflies. It all started when my Dad collected the tickets for the match from the Ticketmaster van outside the stadium. Inside the same envelope with the tickets were my tunnel access pass, seeing the pass in the envelope was one of the highlights of the day. When I went into the grounds I met with Elaine, who I was assisting during the match.

After my Dad and sister went to their seats Elaine brought me into an office where I got a MRSC hat, a Munster training jersey and a keyring. One of the most important things Elaine gave me was a junior club medal to give to the man of the match who I had to choose. Before the game I met some people who I thought I’d never ever meet such as the Munster head coach and the Munster rugby club president!

During the game I was inside the press box with Ken who was the PA announcer for the game. Picking a man of the match was a really hard decision with so many good passages of play from the two sides. With about five minutes left Elaine came up to the press box to ask me who the man of the match was. For the next, minute or two I thought long and hard about it. Finally I made a decision, Darren Sweetnam was the man of the match. When Ken announced this over the PA it was the proudest moment of my life! After the game I presented Darren with the junior club medal and got my picture taken with a few of the players. It was a brilliant day!"

MRSC Photographer: Kellie Naughton, Galway (Age 15)

Kellie worked with MRSC photographer Damien Conway taking photos of the fans and capturing the action on the field from the side-line.

"My day started off with trip down to Waterford from Athenry with my Mom. It took us just over 3 hours to arrive at the stadium where we met the lovely Ciara from Munster rugby, who gave me a lovely Munster top, match program and general access pass.

After entering the stadium we went to meet Damien where I got my very large camera and photographers bib and I was now all set to head out to the pitch for some photos. Damien shared some tips on how to use the camera and how to get some good action shots and we then set off around the stadium taking photos of the fans and players warming up on the pitch.

It was great fun taking photos of everyone and getting to see the build up to the match from so close to the pitch. I got to take great photos of the teams as they ran onto the pitch and got some good action shots in both the first and second half when excellent tries were scored close to where we were based. At the end of the match, I got to go up to the tunnel area and meet some of the players and got some great photos with Billy Holland, Ian Keatley & Francis Saili.

It was a great experience and I didn't want to go home at the end of the game, as I was enjoying meeting the other junior club members on the night and all the players. Its something I'll never forget and will always have great photos from the night to remember. Thank you very much Munster Rugby, Ciara and Damien for a great night."

Nutritionist Assistant: Jennifer McGrath Kerins, Wexford (Age 13)

Jennifer helped Preformance Nutritionist Dr Catherine Norton in the dressing room pre-game making sure the players had all they needed to perform at their best.

"I participated in the Junior Club job for a day at the Munster v Zebre pre-season friendly on the 19th of August at Waterford RSC. Being the Assistant Nutritionist was an amazing experience. Meeting Dr. Catherine Norton and helping her was so much fun and very educational, I learned a lot about what I should and should not eat while playing sport. The team were very nice as soon as they arrived, most of them came up to me and introduced themselves. It was very funny when I had to tell the coaches off for eating the wine gums and biscuits before the match, as they were left out for halftime. This was an exciting, amazing and inspiring experience. It had made me think twice about what I want to do after I finish school!"

#WeAreOneWeAreMunster

Ball Boy: Joshua McQuinn, Waterford (Age 9)

Working from the side-lines during warm up and during the game, Joshua fed the rugby balls back to the Munster squad as needed for lineouts and restarts.

"I was really excited when we got the phone call to say I had got the job for a day for the Munster v Zebre match. I was counting the sleeps to match day! I really enjoyed being a Ball Boy.

When we arrived at the WRSC we met Ciara Lyons, she was lovely. We were standing in the entrance and were able to watch as the teams came in. They walked right in front of me and my mam. She kept squeezing my hand. Some smiled at me – it was great! We were brought off for some training with Waterford City Rugby Club and in no time at all the match had started. One of my favourite parts was when I gave Billy Holland the ball. I also enjoyed when Munster got their first try. Everyone was saying the weather was bad but I didn't notice it. I had been so excited I couldn't eat before the match and when the match was on I was standing near a burger van and I felt hungry. I saw a lot of the match being played right in front of me. It was very exciting. I was so happy. After the game we got our photos taken at the score board. I got my shirt signed by Billy Holland, Ian Keatley and loads more. I already had some some signatures from my Munster Rugby Summer Camp. I saw my friends Josh and Reuben at the match. It was the second best day of my life. The best was when I saw Ireland at the Aviva for Paul O'Connells last Irish home game. Thank you Munster Rugby for giving me a job for a day."

Ball Boy: Sean Nolan, Limerick (Age 13)

Working from the side-lines during warm up and during the game, Sean fed the rugby balls back to the Munster squad as needed for lineouts and restarts.

"I was so happy when my auntie Angela rang me to say I got picked to be ball boy for the Munster v Zebre game in Waterford. My Grandad picked me up and came with me for the day it was great to spend the day with him. We arrived there at half 4 and I met Elaine, she took me to get my wristband and a brand new jersey. Then I met all the other ball boys who got picked and we discussed what we had to do. The match started and I was put behind goal post it was very exciting!! I had to get the ball a few times and try it and kick it back to the players. Ian Keatley kicked a conversion and it slapped into my hands, he has some power in those kicks!! After the game he ran around looking for a black marker to sign my jersey as he only had a red one!! I met all the other Junior Members at the tunnel and got pictures taken, I also took a few selfies with a few players. It was great day, thanks to everybody at munster supporters club for letting me be part of the Munster team and making this the best day of my life!"

The MRSC Junior Club will soon be open for new members – keep an eye out for this and all our future competitions on mrsc.ie!