Rugby hero condemns IRFU over stance on Connacht

IRISH Triple Crown hero Gerry McLoughlin condemned the Irish Rugby Football Union for their handling of a current financial crisis which threatens the future of the professional game in Connacht.

McLoughlin joined the 1,800-strong group of demonstrators outside Lansdowne Road to voice his disgust at the treatment of the Westerners.

“The answer is not to kick one-quarter of Ireland’s rugby tradition into the Atlantic, but then nothing surprises me about the IRFU. It seems nothing has changed in over 20 years”, he said.

McLoughlin a servant of Shannon RFC, Connacht, Munster and Ireland, lost his job as a teacher in Limerick CBS, when he decided to travel with Ireland on a controversial tour to South Africa in 1981. While he returned to help Ireland to their first Triple Crown success in 33 years the following season, McLoughlin claims to have received no assistance from the rugby authorities in his bid to resume his teaching career.

He was forced to open a pub in Limerick and later emigrated to Wales for a number of years before returning in the last 18 months to resume a teaching career in St. Munchin’s College.

“Basically the reason I am here supporting Connacht is that I know what it is like to be kicked in the butt by the IRFU.

“More than that, I understand the struggle Shannon had when they were granted senior status. Many of the established clubs would not give the club regular fixtures in the early days, but Connacht always did as we fought our way through the ‘blazer brigade’ in other provinces.

“Shannon, however, were given the opportunity to fight for position, Connacht would not now appear to have been given that right even though the popularity of the game is at an all-time high in the province. Some years back they might have had a few hundred people at a game but recently in Athlone I watched the province play Pontypridd in a European game in front of thousands.

“Connacht has less resources than the other provinces but has made the best of them. Interesting rugby is at an all-time high and I cannot fathom the reasoning behind abandonment of the professional game in the west.

“It might appear to be the easy financial option but it is very silly in the overall context,” said McLoughlin. “It’s bad enough kicking someone when they’re down, but it’s an act of stupidity by doing the same when they are up.”

McLoughlin launched a plea to other high-profile ex-players and officials in Munster to lend their weight behind the Connacht plan for survival. “We can’t just sit back, pay lip service to the Connacht argument, and then kick them into the sea”, he said.

Connacht received huge support from outside the province in Dublin yesterday and former international out-half, Mick Quinn (Lansdowne), said Connacht’s possible demise would have a devastating effect on Irish rugby.

“There must be a huge number of ways the IRFU can cut costs and they must listen and take on board every suggestion before making such a far-reaching decision as this,” said Quinn.