In our look ahead at last year's Irish Ploughing Championships, the MF 5700 SL tractor was said to be 'combining an ideal power-to-weight ratio with great manoeuvrability.'

The same words could well have been used last week to describe our brand new Massey Ferguson Ambassador –Leinster and Ireland rugby legend Sean O'Brien. Alongside representing Ireland, O'Brien has also represented the British and Irish Lions. Many pundits, coaches and fans have touted him as one of the best players in the world of his generation having been one of Leinster and Ireland's most consistent standout performers over the past number of years.

The same could be said for the MF 6700 S Series, of which Sean was presented the keys to during the show. The MF 6713 S is supplied by Kehoe Bros of Enniscorthy, through their Tullow depot, with whom the O'Brien family has a long-standing relationship.

Part of Sean's role as MF Ambassador at the Championships was to welcome his and Massey Ferguson's chosen charity for the year, St Francis Farm, to the show stand. This is a working farm near Tullow, Co. Carlow, but also a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre offering 14-week, fully supervised, residential programmes. This involves providing a unique blend of individual and group therapy, education and practical skills therapy in a rural farm setting with farming at the core of the rehabilitation.

Sean's family has farmed not far away from the St Francis facility for many years and he cannot remember a time when there wasn't at least one Massey Ferguson tractor doing the hard graft on the family farm. “Being a beef farm, there was nearly always one on the go – they're reliable, accessible and economical – neat and tidy, really,” he recalls.

As MF's Ambassador, he's delighted to be working with St Francis Farm. “They get on with their good work quietly and behind the scenes,” he says. “They're very local to me and they do a very worthwhile job.”

“Sean is a great advocate for both agriculture and for Ireland. We are very much looking forward to working with him on some very exciting projects in the future” says Lindsay Haddon, Advertising & Sales Promotion Manager for Massey Ferguson.