'On the beer with van der Flier' - World Rugby 'Player of the Year' hits Kilkenny

World Rugby Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier, made a surprise visit to Kilkenny on Friday night, stopping off for a night of music and entertainment in Tynan's Bridge House Bar in the city.

The star player, who holds Kilkenny connections, was a key component in the Irish team that recently featured in the Rugby World Cup in France.

Opening up about his connections with the Marble County in recent months, van der Flier confirmed his grandfather George Strong won a number of Towns Cups with Kilkenny RFC in the 1950s.

"My grandad (George Strong) on my mum's side, he used to cycle from Waterford to Kilkenny to play for Kilkenny Rugby Club," van der Flier told Irish Examiner.

"He won the Towns Cup with them. So I suppose he's a hard-working man as well so it has always been in the family."