On returning from the game the jersey, signed by the Munster captain, was presented to the organisers as an auction item.

O'Connell by then was already on his way to London where he spent the night at an airport hotel in order to be back in time for the Freeman of Limerick conferring ceremony at City Hall.

Among his Munster colleagues who attended were, Donncha O'Callaghan, Marcus Horan, Ronan O'Gara, David Wallace, Niall Ronan and  Keiith Earls along with Alan Quinlan, Ireland coach Declan Kidney, Ireland Kit Manager Paddy O'Reilly, Munster A Manager Niall O'Donovan, former Munster and Ireland team manager Brian O'Brien and the respective coaches of Shannon and Young Munster, Stephen Keogh and Mike Prendergast.