'If Carlsberg did gardaí' - Irish women swoon over hunky garda from New Zealand

Irish women are swooning over a garda from New Zealand who has gone viral for his good looks. 

An Garda Síóchána posted a photo of student garda, Josh Rowland, on their official Instagram account yesterday (Thursday July 18), with the post quickly amassing hundreds of comments. 

The former professional rugby player - who has played internationally for Ireland - is currently on his Stage 1 Phase 2 placement in Loughrea Garda Station. 

The photo appears to show Rowland with members of the South Africa Representative 7 and Loughrea President’s 7. 

Comments posted under the photo include: 

"He ain't a usual Irish Garda - this is an M&S Garda." 

"Arrest me immediately." 

"Liked and shared to win him!" 

"I thought Gardaí didn't carry guns..." 

"I fear the female-led crime rate in Loughrea is about to skyrocket." 

"Lads, something is wrong. I can't add to the basket." 

"When your drivers licence photo never mattered, until now!!" 

"What does one have to do to be arrested by him, asking for a friend." 

"Watch now as half the female population of Ireland descends on Loughrea on the hunt for poor Josh." 

"If Carlsberg did gardai." 

"I’ve never been in trouble with the Gardai, but there’s a first time for everything…"

"I think I would feel much safer with him around Wicklow area…"

"Quick, someone put some music on and start throwing fivers at him!" 

"This garda looks like a model." 

However, not everyone approved of the flirty comments, with one Instagram user stating, "If the comments under this were written by men about a female Garda there’d be uproar." 

Another person commented, "These comments are awful, if this was the other way around..." 

Another wrote, "The irony is if that was a fit girl, the lads would be cancelled for similar innuendo comments!" 

It's not the first time Rowland has gone viral. 

An Garda Síochána posted a video on social media in June about Rowland's journey from rugby player to garda. 

In the video, Rowland confirms he came to Ireland in 2016 and played for a number of European countries before his retirement.

He also confirmed he is married.