Former Ballina Mini Rugby player all set for World Cup

Saturday promises to be a very special day for all involved with Ballina Rugby Club. In the morning a new group of Mini Rugby players set off on their sporting journey when they run onto Heffernan Park for the first time and in the afternoon a former Ballina Mini will play for Ireland in the World Cup in France.

Caelan Doris, began his sporting life at Mini Rugby in Ballina and on Saturday he will win his 32nd cap in the back row alongside Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne when Ireland open their World Cup campaign against Romania in Bordeaux. It promises to be a special day for the man from Lacken and the significance is not lost on Alan Rowe, chairman of Ballina RFC.

"It's appropriate that our Mini Rugby season starts on the same day Caelan begins the World Cup campaign. It's amazing to think that he arrived in Heffernan Park one Saturday morning for Minis and is now one of the best players in the world. Tomorrow morning a new band of boys and girls will set off on their rugby journeys and there will be some fun when they get out on the pitch. It's brilliant to be able to tell them that Caelan was just like them a few years ago," he said.

Doris has been one of Ireland's top performers in recent seasons and is expected to be a central figure as the men in green look to make a big impact in France. In Ballina, a new band of Mini Rugby players will watch him closely and dream of one day following in his footsteps.