Tommy Martin: What Irish rugby fans really want is a drink

Almost seven out of ten rugby fans said they would oppose any ban on drinking at the Aviva Stadium

BOTTOMS UP: Supporters carry pints of beverages to their seats during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Fiji at the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

You don’t have to be drunk to watch the Irish rugby team, but it helps.

Or so the results of an IRFU survey released this week suggested. The union published research conducted during the recent Autumn internationals in which fans were asked about whether they would approve of an alcohol ban in the Aviva Stadium at rugby matches.