Rugby fans disappointed at O'Driscoll no-show
High-street retailer HMV was forced to apologise tonight when dozens of rugby fans were left disappointed after Irish team hero Brian O’Driscoll failed to show at his DVD signing.
The Lions captain was due to meet supporters and sign copies of his DVD ’Brian O’Driscoll’s Lion’s Diary’ at HMV in Dublin’s Grafton Street.
However, dozens of rugby fans, including some who had travelled from Belfast, were left waiting when the centre failed to show.
In a statement, the high street retailer said: “HMV and Mr O’Driscoll regret the inconvenience and disappointment caused to those fans that queued, although we are pleased to confirm that a signed copy of the ’Lions Diary’ DVD will be reserved for everyone that came along and left their contact details. These fans will also receive a free copy of of the rugby DVD ’In the Lion’s Den’.”
A spokesman for O’Driscoll said the player failed to show due to a double booking.
“It was crossed wires, he was at a Bank of Scotland function at the same time it was purely a cock-up in the arrangements. We weren’t able to get him from one to the other in time.
“Given how busy it has been over the last while one isn’t too bad.
“Arrangements are already in place to get signed copies of the DVD for the people who turned up. They won’t be disappointed.”
The Irish centre, who also appeared in all three British and Irish Lions tests in their tour of Australia in 2001, was named captain of the 2005 Lions squad in April.
However, he was put out of action when he was injured by a controversial tackle in the first match against the All Blacks in the summer.
O’Driscoll, recently voted Ireland’s sexiest man, is set to miss Ireland’s November internationals but hopes to play for Leinster in the Heineken Cup pool games in January and lead the country in next year’s Six Nations.
The Lions captain is due to hold a DVD signing in HMV in Drogheda, Co Louth on Thursday, November 10.
