DAN SHEEHAN has revealed he has lost his Jonah Lomu photograph – as he aims to make new memories against Wales tomorrow.
Leinster hooker Sheehan will captain Ireland for the first time as they aim to secure a Triple Crown and stay on course for a third Championship, and second Grand Slam in three years.
But his elevation to captain in place of the injured Caelan Doris meant an old photograph of Sheehan as a four-year resurfaced – of the time he met All Blacks legend Lomu.
But the 26-year-old admitted he does not know when the originals are now.
He said: “There was a photo but I can’t remember where it is anymore. We moved house a few times so it’s probably been lost.
“I think my auntie was in a marketing agency at the time (for a Ballygowan ad with Lomu). They needed a kid willing to shave his head and my parents willingly put me forward!
“I have a vague memory of it. I was very young but I remember it being pretty cool. I remember rocking back into school the next day with the hair cut and getting a good giggle out of the lads.”
But Sheehan admitted that playing for Ireland, let alone captaining the team, were the furthest thing from his mind until more recently.
He added: “We were just a big rugby fan family. Dad would have got us in at a very young age, down in Bective.
“As the years went on I got a bit more serious but it wasn’t until I left school that I really took it seriously and saw that I might have a shot at going in pro.
“We were always a massive rugby family, it’s all we talked about and we’d be excited going to these games and watching these games on Saturdays, especially Six Nations.
“It’s kind of weird to look back through eyes of a child and it’s nice to be here now and I’m absolutely loving everything that has to go with the team.”
