Rugby fans to line out for sports comedy

Rugby fans will be in a scrum for tickets for a sports-filled comedy due to hit stages across Ireland.

'Alone It Stands', the story of the historic 1978 rugby match between Munster and the larger-than-life New Zealand All Blacks, kicks off a six-week long nationwide tour next week.

With rugby fever gripping the nation, audiences will be able to take a break from the armchair and relive the moment Munster beat the All Blacks 12-0.

But even its cast will be skipping rehearsals to catch the Irish rugby squad give a top performance of their own at their World Cup opener against Namibia tonight.

As Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan takes his team to Chaban-Delmas, Stade de France, and Parc des Princes, Alone It Stands will keep its setting in the humble Thomond Park.

The production will begin its run at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, on September 17, before trying its luck in Ballygawley, Naas, Castlebar, Birr, and Dublin.

It will then be staged in the heart of Munster in venues across Thurles, Limerick and Cork.

Written by John Breen, the award-winning comedy has played to great acclaim as far abroad as Tasmania and gone on to be one of the most successful productions in the history of Irish theatre.

It also boasts a very successful West End run to both rugby fans and non-rugby fans alike.

Breen said he started working on the production during the World Cup in 1999, taking the actors to People’s Park in Limerick for tag rugby so they could learn the rules.

“We had to stop as they became a bit too enthusiastic and I was afraid that there would be injuries before we ever got to tread the boards,” he said.

“By the time the World Cup rolled around in September they were all experts on the game.”

Producers Pat Moylan and Breda Cashe both claim they knew nothing about rugby until they became involved in the production, but realised it had something special to offer audiences.

“Ireland at that time didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory but this time, if we can avoid the All Blacks in the quarter-finals, who knows?

“I am sure that the brand new cast will be relishing the prospect of the competition as I am.”