Top 10 Sportsmanship Moments of 2011 Romanian captain, Cristian Petre, who after suffering a 67-3 loss to England, was asked by a reporter about the game and replied “I play rugby for happiness.” More The French rugby team won the toss to choose who wears their own home jerseys in the Rugby World Cup Final … Read more
When asked about the illegal Welsh try that won the game, the Irish coach, Declan Kidney did not fulminate in the manner of Sir Alex Ferguson, but said, that ‘while he felt extremely frustrated, he was not going to make an issue of it at a time when so many in the world were suffering … Read more
Good Luck to Scotland’s Max Evans today in the Welsh match. Last year he played in the same match with his brother Thom, who suffered a very serious neck injury which ended his rugby career and almost his ability to ever walk again. Although Thom was invited to the game, it may have been too … Read more
When World Cup winning hero, Johnny Wilkinson came to town, fans turn up to see the genius in action. There’s something unique about him (which this story reveals later). He now plies his trade for French side, Toulon, and when they played London Irish in the Heineken Cup, Wilkinson was majestic at the Madejski Stadium. … Read more
I have often wondered whether I would live to see Ireland beat the All Blacks. The famous team from New Zealand are the best in the world(despite only winning one World Cup). Something unreal happened……. Although Munster, a province of Ireland, beat them way back in 1978, Ireland never managed to beat the Kiwis in … Read more
So here’s the question I put to the 2005 twin spear tackling duo, Tana Umaga and Kevin Mealamu, and to the infamous 1978 diver, former World Rugby Cup ambassador, Andy Haden (he dived out of a line-out to win a penalty which beat Wales 13-12 and still has ‘no regrets’), – would you want your child … Read more
The oldest international rugby venue in the world, Lansdowne Road, and its brand new 51,700 all-seater Aviva Stadium opened its doors to the world on Saturday 31 July 2010. Here is my virtual tour as I sat in awe of this wonderful new stadium. One wonders what historic moments in rugby and football (soccer) will … Read more
And so the dream was taken away by the better side on the day, Scotland (20-23). It was interesting, when I asked Scottish fans before the game to forecast the result, all but one said ‘A Win!’. The other singular Scottish voice said he forecasted ‘a good weekend!’ Whilst most of our Welsh friends the … Read more
Welsh fans are amazing. Last year, when Ireland finally won our long awaited Grand Slam in Cardiff, I couldn’t help feeling that the Welsh celebrated it as much as we did. A year later I’m back in Dublin for Wales’ last international rugby match …. …to be held in hidden jewel in the crown which … Read more
I recently learned something wonderful about the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team from 31 years ago. It was kindly sent to me by former Ireland and Lions sensational wing forward, Fergus Slattery whom I met in South Africa during the Lions tour this summer. Munster made history when they beat the mighty All … Read more