This week we profile Arabian Knights' star prop Tyson Byrne.
– #Quiz360: WIN dinner for 2 at Jumeira Rotana, Dubai
Team: Arabian Knights
Height: 1.88m / 6’ 2”
Weight: 138kgs / 21st 7lbs
Position: Tighthead prop
Age: 24 Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Years in UAE: Eight Honours: Saracens (London) U16s/17s, Arabian Gulf U18s
Favourite childhood memory of rugby: Watching Ireland win the Grand Slam in 2009.
Favourite player growing up: John Hayes, the cornerstone of the Irish and Munster scrum for a decade.
Rugby team you support: Threetime Heineken Cup and current Pro12 Champions, Leinster.
Best international at the moment and why: Hard to argue with the form of Paul O’Connell, a true leader in the Autumn tests.
Rule you would change and why: I would reduce the points for a penalty kick. Hopefully that would lead to more live play time in the game.
Best game you ever saw: The Lions beating South Africa 28-9 in the third Test of the 2009 series.
Toughest opponent in UAE: Sol Mokdad from Heartbeat Tigers. Longtime friend and ex-team-mate. We know each others’ moves too. Matt Seale from Dragons would be a close second.
Funniest moment in your career: Jebel Ali 7s 2013. One of my teammates lined up for the conversion in front of the posts, the ball must have gone about two feet in the air and rolled along the ground. The whole stand erupted with laughter; even the ref had a chuckle
Greatest achievement in any sport: Going undefeated in Craven Week with Exiles U18s on our tour of South Africa.
If you could be a professional in any other sport what it would be and why? Taking part in the World’s Strongest Man competition would be awesome. If not that, curling would be my next choice.
Favourite meal: Not much better than a big sloppy pizza. I love picking the onions from my beard afterwards.
Favourite place in the UAE: Reem Al Bawadi, Dubai
