The squad looked in high spirits as they flew out to France.
Andy Farrell's Ireland players, and his backroom team, flew out from Dublin Airport this afternoon (August 31) for an adventure they hope lasts two months.
The squad flew out to France on a specially chartered Aer Lingus flight - A320, a.k.a Green Spirit - departed Dublin at 12 noon and was flown by Captain Caolan Flanagan, who attended the same school (St Mary's College) as Ireland captain, Johnny Sexton. While many players looked keen to get up in the air, others were drawing great craic out of proceedings and soaking in every moment.
Ireland will be led by Johnny Sexton in France, in what will be his final tournament before hanging up his playing boots.
This will be Sexton's fourth World Cup, but the first time he has the honour of captaining his country on the highest of Test rugby stages.
"We've made it well known that we're a very close group," Sexton told reporters at Dublin Airport. "We've built that over the last four years.
"Our initial thoughts are we're gutted for Cian [Healy, the injured Ireland prop]. That's where we've been so it's very hard to... but once we get out there, now, as far as we know Cian is feeling better and we're all systems go. We're looking forward to a huge tournament ahead."
https://twitter.com/RTErugby/status/1697233677921497246
The Ireland players will now focus on the World Cup opener against Romania, on September 9, before taking on Tonga, South Africa and Scotland.
The knock-out stages start with the quarter finals, October 14-15, with the final in Paris on October 28.
BRIAN O'DRISCOLL ON FIRST CALL-UPS AND CAREER HIGHS:
Ireland players, including Jack Conan, Jack Crowley and Bundee Aki pictured at Dublin Airport ahead of Ireland's flight to France for the World Cup. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_292192" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Johnny Sexton with Aer Lingus Captain, Caolan Flanagan (Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_292191" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Robbie Henshaw and Josh van der Flier with Aer Lingus captain, Ruairi Farrell. (Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)[/caption]
