Respect suffers as rugby losing manners, fears Paul Wallace

Following the ironic cheering of Munster out-half Ian Keatley against Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup last Saturday, former Irish international prop Paul Wallace believes that the influence of supporters in other sports is starting to creep into provincial rugby in Ireland.

Recalling his time growing up in the province, Wallace said that supporters always behaved in a mannerly fashion, but has noticed a sea change in recent times.

“As someone who grew up playing in Munster rugby, it is certainly not like that. Your die-hard fans are incredibly respectful. You think of the silence before kicking was pretty much a Thomond Park thing, and it has spread out,” Wallace remarked yesterday.