Keith Earls: 'Winning this URC with Munster Rugby is a dream come true'

DECORATED Munster Rugby winger Keith Earls described winning the United Rugby Championship as the 'best feeling ever' as the victorious squad members were lauded by their supporters at a colourful homecoming in Thomond Park on Monday night.

More than 9,000 delighted red-clad supporters turned out to welcome the players and backroom team members home after their thrilling 19-14 final win over the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday night.

The victorious squad was introduced to the crowd by former Munster player and Hermitage Green band member, Barry Murphy while the Cranberries hi, Zombie, blasted out over the PA system on a warm summer evening.

A huge ovation on the night was reserved for 35-year-old Munster winger Keith Earls who may have played his final game for the province in Saturday's final who could be set to retire from rugby after the World Cup. 

There were deafening cheers of 'one more year, one more year' when Earls was introduced to the ecstatic fans, some of whom had queued since 4.30pm to gain entry to the homecoming which started at 7pm.

Earls grew up a few hundred yards from Thomond Park in Moyross had Barry Murphy recounted the Ireland winger telling stories of him as a schoolboy catching rugby balls for Ronan O'Gara when he was kicking penalties after training at Thomond Park.

Asked what it was like to be back at Thomond Park with the URC trophy 20-odd years on from being at the stadium retrieving rugby balls for his hero O'Gara and 12 years since Munster won a trophy, Earls said: “Ya, it's the best feeling ever. There's no better feeling that winning with Munster. It is incredible. I know Rog has had his success over the past week (with La Rochelle), but I spent many a time kicking with Rog (back then) and him calling me 'Scobie' back then.

"It's (winning the URC) is a complete dream come true. Getting over the wall here after school every day, kicking the ball around and then getting to lift the trophy here with the lads in front of thousands of fans, it's brilliant, magic."

As well Earls, the likes of captain Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer have also waited a long time to win a trophy with the province."  

“Ya it has been a long time, it has been 12 years," Earls admitted.

"It is a privilege to share the pitch with those guys. I know some of the lads cannot be here, Conor Murray is getting married next week. He’s under savage pressure.

“Look, it's a dream come true. I grew up 500 metres from here over the wall into Ballynanty and into Moyross. I don't really care about the medals and the trophy, it's all about the province of Munster. We are delighted to do it for them, it has been a long time."

Munster turned their fortunes around in emphatic fashion after losing five of their opening seven games this season to claim their first silverware since 2011.

Munster Rugby head coach Graham Rowntree was confident more success would come to the province.

"This won't sink in for a long time, they won't realise that," Rowntree said.

"There is no other team that has done this, six games away from home. And no one will ever do it again. But we will find a harder way to do it next time.

"And what that gives you as a player is the belief, you become bulletproof. And you go and play teams and they are scared of you. I mean, we should have put them away by half-time on Saturday.

"This group will fight and I am just so proud of them.

"We are ready for this and this group of players are ready for this. It will only get better lads, I promise you that. This will only get better."