Madam, - I often wonder why we have children on the pitch at Lansdowne Road before a Six Nations match. I imagine that Ireland's captain Brian O'Driscoll had enough to do last Sunday without taking charge of two children as he ran on to the pitch.
I was prompted to write this letter when I heard the children interviewed by Des Cahill of RTÉ about O'Driscoll's final exhortation to his team. He used "rude words", they both said. Any captain should be allowed to use any language or term he sees fit in what I have always considered to be a very private pre-match moment with his team members.
These were young children in an adult environment for a brief period. They play junior rugby. I can imagine how they may now think they should encourage their respective teams before their under-10 games. - Yours, etc.,
KATHLEEN KEATING, Kells, Co Kerry.