Family matters for in-form James Lowe as Ireland enjoy break

For 10 or 15 minutes after full-time in Ireland games, the Aviva Stadium pitch looks like a creche.

Johnny Sexton once said his son Luca knew he could only come onto the pitch after games if Ireland won. It's been a while since that policy needed to be put to the test.

It's three years to the day since Ireland's last defeat at the Aviva Stadium, a drab 15-13 Six Nations loss to France. The Covid-19 guidelines of the time meant that even if Ireland had won that day, there was nobody in the ground to see it.

Andy Farrell's side have now won 16 games in a row at the Aviva Stadium, and every time they add to that run, we see the players getting to enjoy those little moments with their families.

The gates open, and the kids come out. Some come out for a run around, and if they're big enough, have a kickabout. Others sit up on Dad's shoulders. Others aren't even old enough to know what's going on.

Finlay Bealham is the latest player to join the Dad Club, with the tighthead and his wife Sarah welcoming a baby boy, Jaoquin, into the world last week.

And for James Lowe, whose own son Nico is just under a year old, those moments after the game have become extra special.

"It's cool, it's really, really cool," he says.

"There's a lot of kids running around. I’m sure you saw it after the game as well, everyone’s kids are down there."

Farrell's emphasis on creating a family-friendly environment has been mentioned consistently by other players in the last couple of years.

Even aside from the post-match moments with their kids on the pitch, it's clear there's a big emphasis on having a healthy work and life balance for the players. Before and during the World Cup, players were given more time to spend with their loved ones, while on milestone