Irish rugby’s oui embassy problem

THE storming of the Bastille was nothing by comparison with the invasion of Paris by Irish rugby fans for internationals against France.

A letter from the Irish Ambassador to France, Hugh McCann, to the secretary of the IRFU in relation to the upcoming match in March 1980 revealed the diplomat and his predecessor felt besieged by supporters trying to crash the traditional embassy reception for the players and invited guests.

“The pressure for invitations from the ever-growing number of rugby fans who come to Paris for the match is a source of embarrassment,” he wrote. “The reception which we held in the embassy on the occasion of the Franco-Irish match in 1978 was marred by the extent of “gate-crashing” which took place.