Dance of defiance

READING the hoopla about Ronan O’Gara’s stance before the British queen reminds me that when I was a boy, every second home international was played in Belfast following a rendition of the British anthem.

One year Tom Clifford, the great forward from the Young Munster club, danced a jig during the anthem. The loyal gentlemen of the IRFU were enraged and, needless to say, he was never picked again.

However, the upshot was that public opinion prevailed and all games are played in Dublin where due respect is given to the national anthem and flag.