For all those rugby fans still depressed by England's dismal loss to Wales, spare a thought for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Barry 'Boyo' O'Brien.

Bazza, The Diary has learned, is an avid Welsh rugby follower and attends every game in the hope of seeing them beat… well, anyone. But sadly he gave up his tickets to this game to see an old friend from overseas.

Strangely enough, the last game Bazza missed was Wales' last win over England in 1999. Far be it from The Diary to suggest he is a bad luck charm, but perhaps he should stop turning up to Freshfields' prospective-merger meetings with US firms.