The former Ireland captain was speaking on The Rugby Pod and was asked why he doesn’t’ sing Ireland’s Call, the Ulster man said the following ..
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“It goes back to my Ireland Schools’ days. You think it’s going to be the greatest honour you’re ever going to achieve. You’re playing for Ireland. Being from rugby families like we were, you’re going ‘this is incredible.
“You get so emotionally charged for it. And Ireland’s Call comes on that you’ve heard so many times in the old Lansdowne Road or watching on TV, and you’re belting it out.”
“I remember we played France or England. Kicked off. I’m flying up going ‘the first guy is getting it’,” he said.
“They catch it, kick it out, and I’m turning around, running back to get a ball, still thinking ‘somebody’s gonna get it.’ I fired this throw in and it went…like I tell the story that it went three times the height of the person I was throwing it to. It wasn’t that bad. And it flew over the top.
“From then on, I went, I can’t go into a game…because it’s so emotive to me, Ireland’s Call. And actually, even the tail end of the Irish national anthem, you know the way you get that build-up for that crescendo at the end.”
Maybe it boils down to the fact that he never learned Irish a lot of Protestant people won’t learn it and prefer to adopt the British anthem as theirs. Irelands Call was created for this situation an anthem that all of the religions in Ireland can sing without objection. rory Best may fall into this category but that doesn’t mean he’s not able to play for Ireland as the rugby team doesn’t differentiate between religions and he was born in the 32 counties.
We all know we are and where we come from
Don’t try and take this down a path in sport that nobody wants to go .let the sport dictate and if you enjoy it participate. I never hear any criticism in any other place or sport .so leave well alone and let us enjoy everything .happiness is for everyone. Enjoy it to the best
I hate articles like this that try to make a political story out of sport.
Rugby (the IRFU) was formed before partition and so remains an ALL ISLAND representation sport. It doesn’t matter within rugby if you are a Unionist from Northern Ireland or a Nationalist/ Republican from anywhere on the island.
Don’t make this site go all political like how football (Soccer) has went with many in NI players opting to represent the FAI instead of IFA.
Let us also consider that those N.I. Unionists who were selected from Ulster have always gave 100% in that green jersey.
Unfortunately, some even got caught up within a terrorist bomb which ended their careers.
But dedication and commitment never being an issue with many like Rory being captain.
Let’s leave it at that
Brilliant Captain, rugby player & humanitarian charity worker. We’re sick of corrupt politicians and fear-mongering religion-peddlers who are not fit to lick his boots. Religion & nationality are accidents of birth and indoctrination. Get over it 😡
Did everyone read a different article. His response has nothing to do with religion, politics etc.