Lee Rafferty writes:
I recently made a visual analysis of Irelands 6 Nations win for work (sample above). It shows how much of an influence Brian O’Driscoll had on Ireland’s win and analyses other key parts of the tournament.
See Lee’s full analysis here.
[From top: Jack McGrath, Ian Madigan and Brian O’Driscoll; Cian Healy with Holly Carpenter; Leo Vardkar and Brian O’Driscoll; from left: Mary Scott,, Aoife Reddan,, Kimberlee Ross,, Sophie Marren and Hollie Carpenter; Jack McGrath, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney with Moss Mooney, age 8 and a team shot..
Scenes from the reception in honour of the The RBS 6 Nations Championship winning Irish Rugby Team at Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin hosted by sports minister Leo Varadkar and junior minister Michael Ring .
(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)
[Vincent Browne]
To the rugby fans and players.
A kick in the Gilberts.
“The image many of us males have of what it means to be a man, is disturbing and it doesn’t much differ from the rugby world’s ideal. One feature it surely does not include is homosexuality – the ideal man, hegemonic man, is certainly heterosexual, perhaps aggressively so. A bit prone to violence or at least “able to look after himself” – ie able to beat the bejasus out of anyone who challenges him. A capacity to drink enormous amounts of pints – sensibly of course – is almost de rigeur. And being a good man with the girls, lots of girls.
The posh private all-male schools do their bit to engender this culture, as does the media and, classically, rugby does it too. Less so the GAA and, I think, soccer.
It isn’t just the social boorishness that is the problem with this, it is the homophobia, the misogyny, or at least the patriarchy that goes with it – the idea that the world is there for the men, the business, political and professional world certainly, although to put a decent gloss on it in modern times we let the women in a bit. But for the most part women are there for decoration, sex and procreation, of course…”
FIGHT!
Haze him.
Fuppin pansy!
A mature discussion!
Painful Truth About Rugby Culture (Vincent Browne, (rish Times)
The Stade de France this evening.
“Ireland won the Six Nations by a matter of inches. With only 90 seconds to play in this extraordinary match, as thrilling as any in the recent history of the tournament, their players were sure that they had blown it.”
Ireland clinch Six Nations crown after beating France in thriller (Guardian)
Thanks Siobhan F
I believe in BOD, the centre almighty. Master of offload and turf. Of all that is green and ungreen.
We believe in one Lord, Paul O’Connell,
the only Son of BOD,
eternally begotten of the Centre, BOD from BOD, fight from fight,
true BOD from true BOD,
begotten, not made,
of one being with Rugby .
Through him all tries were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from Leinster:
by the power of the Holy sport he became incarnate from the Virgin Keith Woods,and was made man.For our sake he was shafted under Warren Gatland;
he suffered de-selection and was buried.
In 2014 he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into Paris
and is seated at the right hand of Rugby.He will come again in glory to play the living and the dead,
and his try scoring will have no end.Ross Frenett & Dave Coughlan
David Sheridan writes:
Saw this on eBay. Would be nice to have more info on the players.
Well, there’s this.
1952 El Grafico Argentina Magazine W.J. Hewitt Ireland National Rugby Union (eBay)
Liggy writes:
I thought you might like this framed photo seen in a South East London pub last weekend. Blackheath is the oldest open rugby club in the UK formed in 1858. In 1890, the same year Gladstone refused to consider Home Rule for Ireland, our rugby team headed over to Blackheath to play a game of rugby with the English team.Anyone know what the score was?
Anyone?
Ireland full-back Rob Kearney peers out from the Italian man cave earlier at the Aviva.
Via Jenny Moore
Alternatively…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEf9ItvMOrY
Shane Reilly tweetz:
Our
@kearneyrob tribute earlier…
http://vimeo.com/38845207
Splutter.
That Banned BBC rugby promo (with English tykes playing Irish nippers).
FIGHT!
Update: via Guardian Sport
via @SeanPaulV
Ahead of today’s 6 Nations Championship game between England and Ireland at Twickenham, Tom McGurk gives us a history lesson.
“It was here in College Park that the oval football was first kicked through the 19th century Irish twilight. Trinity College founded in 1854 is the oldest surviving working club in the world. This was the birthplace of Irish rugby football. So, once again, this evening, the red rose and shamrocks will square up.”
Tom’s eau de cologne The strange odour of age?
Previously: Cabbage Patch Kids
