Former rugby international Shane Byrne said his wife is not worried about him straying on Dancing With The Stars.
The Wicklow dad-of-two impressed last weekend when he performed the Cha Cha Cha with his pro dance partner Karen Byrne.
And Shane, 51, revealed his wife Caroline was secretly hoping he would be teamed up with Latin champ Karen.
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The Dubliner, 30, lifted the glitterball trophy with 24-year-old Jake Carter in 2018 before the pair revealed they were dating.
And five years later the Ballyfermot native and her Liverpudlian pop singer boyfriend are still going strong.
Former Leinster and Ireland hooker Shane said: “I don’t know whether it’s a compliment or an insult to me but she wasn’t concerned.
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I have a good healthy fear of my wife.
“The simple fact is that when I was asked to do the show, and the ladies convinced me to do the show, my wife Caroline hoped it was Karen that I would get.
“I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Shane, nicknamed The Mullet or Munch for his distinctive retro hairstyle, was part of the Triple Crown winning team in 2004 captained by Brian O’Driscoll.
When it comes to support from his old rugby pals, he added: “I’m getting a lot of slagging which is great and they are all watching which is even better.
“That’s what it is all about. Life is for living and you have to go out and do these things.
“No matter how much pressure is put on you, my experience so far has made it so worthwhile. It’s going down as a life experience.
“Thankfully I have had an amazing life so far in the sense that I have experienced some amazing occasions playing on the international rugby field.
“I didn’t think I would get as emotionally wrapped up in this as I am.
“The competitiveness and all is there and I’m way outside of my comfort zone but just before you go on you are feeling the same buzz, the same jitters that I haven’t felt in a long time.
“It really caught me on the hop and I’m absolutely delighted it has.”
Shane is competing in the sixth series of the RTE show alongside former state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, footballer Stephanie Roche and stylist Suzanne Jackson.
He revealed he gets on best with comedian and former Republic Of Telly host Kevin McGahern.
Shane said: “A lot of the people you don’t see until the weekend. I see Kevin more than anybody else, but they are a really lovely group.
“Everyone is so friendly, there’s no animosity, there doesn’t seem to be any ego. When we get together at weekends it’s always fun and there is always that undertone of taking the mickey and having a laugh which is exactly what you want.”
Despite grappling with tough dance routines, Shane said Karen is well able to tell him what to do.
He added: “I’m well used to taking instruction, I have been coached all my life. Karen is slipping very firmly into that role with me now so I am just doing what I’m told.
“The old competitiveness is still there. This experience is fantastic and I didn’t expect it to be like this.”
But he admitted his dancing skills are being put to the test tonight as he performs the Paso Doble.
Shane said: “This is a whole different level, one week to get everything. Forget all the bits I have learned in the last little while, this is a new set of rules.
“This weekend I just want to put a smile on the judges’ faces.” Shane confessed he has his eye on the prize and would love to lift the glitterball trophy at the end of the 11-week show.
He added: “You don’t enter a thing like this just to take part and make up the numbers.
“I’m up against people who have thousands of followers on Instagram and have been on it for years.
“My kids created my Instagram account four weeks ago, that’s the position I’m in.” Shane
said. Despite the show clashing with the Six Nations, he will be concentrating on the task
at hand.
He said: “Dancing will take priority, there’s no doubt about that.
“The final weekend, let’s indulge me that I’m still here, it’s Paddy’s weekend which is the final weekend of the Six Nations.
“I also organise the Ireland versus England Legends game which is on that weekend, I’m meant to be playing.
“I already had a crazy diary before agreeing to this, now it’s just nuts. That’s life, you just have to get through it.”
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