He knows and likes John O’Sullivan, who told me we were getting a good prop on loan even before word got out from The Stoop, so I’ve had an interest from early on.

I was there when he was presented his cap on his Ireland A debut.

He’s bigger than me even though I struggle to get into his shirt. (That doesn’t read quite right but I can’t be arsed to change it.)

Did I mention that he’s Irish?

So some facts about this lovely big man who Munster let go so easily and we are delighted to count among our ranks.

Michael Robert Ross was born in Cork City on the 21^st December 1979 to an Irish father and an American mother. He was the eldest of 5 with 3 younger brothers and a younger sister. His family still farm in Cork.

His childhood ambition was to be a pilot after watching Top Gun. (He’d have eaten Tom Cruise for breakfast.)

His best subjects at school were English and Biology.

He has a degree in bio-technology and any one who takes him on at scrabble should beware. You won’t win! He’s incredibly well read and who can forget those lovely blogs he sent us from the Churchill Cup in 2007?

He played rugby at Fermoy,  UCC and for Cork Con.

He sat on the bench for 1 Munster game.  Their loss is definitely our gain.

His biggest rugby influences are Brian Hyland and John Kingston.

He seems to be good friends with everyone at Quins but obviously is very close to Tani and Ceri and Jim and Ollie are also particular mates.

You don’t get to be as big as Mike without a decent appetite and his favourite meal would be goat’s cheese and pesto, followed by a good matured steak and thick cut chips with chocolate brownies and ice cream to finish.

He likes to watch American football, listens to Radio Head, Chilli Peppers and although he doesn’t play an instrument, I have it on good authority that he sang his way out of the dungeon at a Bunratty Castle banquet. Perhaps we can persuade him to give us a chorus or two on tour like SK and Gav did!

His favourite film is Terminator 2,

Book…Lord of the Rings

TV Programme…..Battlestar Gallactica

Asked who he would choose as dinner guests he decided upon Billy Connolly, Muhammad Ali and Mel Brooks. Having shared a pudding with Mike, I hope they’re not hungry!!

He wants to visit New Zealand and the Caribbean. I can see him getting to NZ in a green shirt but the Caribbean will have to be a holiday. (More watering duties!!)

Unfortunately Mike got injured very early on in an Ireland game against the BaaBaas in Gloucester but fought his way back to fitness in time for the Churchill Cup this summer. He played well and has again been picked for the Ireland squad who are training in Cork next week.

I hope Declan Kidney appreciates his talents and he gets a chance in the autumn internationals. He deserves a shot after playing almost every minute of every game for Quins last season.

He seems very happy in Twickenham and I hope his “exile” doesn’t mean he’ll miss out on Ireland opportunities as it would be great to see him in a Quins shirt for a good while. As a prop he’s really only a baby at the tender age of 28.

I did ask him about best and worst room mates etc but in the interest of team harmony I have decided to leave that subject well alone!

I’d like to thank him for his tolerance both during this interview and in general and publicly forgive him for the sympathy he extended to my husband on meeting him!!!