European Rugby Cup Delegation To Visit San Francisco For "Irish Week"

Two great exponents of the European game of rugby football will lead a delegation from Ireland to meet with Mayor Gavin Newsom at San Francisco City Hall this coming Friday, while on a tour of Northern California.

The duo - Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan of Irish rugby club, Munster will also be bringing the victory trophy, the European Heineken Rugby Cup, to appreciative audiences of Irish American supporters during "Irish Week" in San Francisco and San Jose starting Thursday.

Anthony Foley, who led Munster's European Rugby Cup victory last  year, and fellow Munster squad member, Alan Quinlan have both played for Ireland at international level, with Foley being capped 62 times, and Quinlan 23 time.

They are being accompanied on their Californian tour by the Munster squad's Director of Coaching, Declan Kidney and Roger Downer chairman of Munster Rugby.

The men's tour of Northern California will see them fulfill a program of public engagements around San Francisco and San Jose on March 8th thru 10th.

Activities planned for the delegation kick off with a welcome reception in their honor which will be hosted by Ireland's Consul General, Émer Deane and John Hartnett, of Palm Inc.

Announcing the tour itinerary, Munster Rugby USA co-founder, John Hartnett, said: "We are very excited to have representatives of the Heineken Cup championship team here in Northern California.

"Munster has established itself as one of the world's premier rugby club sides, and this visit helps to demonstrate how much Munster rugby is recognized and followed the world over."

The American supporters' organization, Munster Rugby USA was established in 2006 as a non-profit organization, with the objective of enabling Munster rugby fans in North America to become an integral part of the network of Munster rugby supporters across the globe.