One jersey, one song

IF our national rugby team are too embarrassed to sing the anthem of the country they are playing for, is it any surprise that they under-perform when the game kicks off?

The IRFU has landed us in a no-win muddle, with some of the team ignoring the national anthem, others ignoring the sub-Eurovision embarrassment that is Ireland’s Call, while the crowd opt for The Fields of Athenry.

Rugby has an unrivalled opportunity to bring people together, as it did during the worst of the Troubles, when giants of the game like Willie John McBride graced Lansdowne Road. One jersey, one flag, one anthem. It worked.