'It's been awesome' - New signing Alex Nankivell already a hit with Munster fans

It was around 10 or 15 minutes after full-time in Munster's win against the Stormers at Thomond Park a couple of weeks ago, and there were just a few stragglers left hanging around the ground.

Several of the press pack were still putting away their laptops by this point, the 10-3 Munster win having stretched the deadlines for a few on-the-whistle match reports.

It allowed us to catch a candid moment, as Munster's new signing Alex Nankivell came back out onto the pitch and jogged over to the Mayorstone corner of Thomond Park's West Stand, where he had promised a bunch of kids he would return.

The 27-year-old has barely been in Ireland for six weeks, but seems to have made an early impression on the fans.

"Often we'll go in [after a game], walk into the tunnel and have a little bit of a team meeting, so you don't always get a chance to get a chance to thank the fans who come and watch you," he says of that gesture after the win against the Stormers.

"I remember being a young kid and loved it when players came around and signed my programme and things like that.

"That was just a random bunch. I think it was a rugby team, some young kids over in the far corner.

"They just yelled out before I ran in, and I didn't have time to do it before the meeting, so I said I'd come out and give some time back to them."

The New Zealander (above) has been a popular addition even in these early stages, and not just for signing autographs and posing for selfies.

The centre has impressed in his five games so far, fitting in well alongside Antoine Frisch in midfield.

He's been efficient on the ball with 35 carries across three starts and two games from the bench, while his 11 defenders beaten is second only to Calvin Nash on Munster's rankings. On the