Rugby Flag and Anthem
Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007Macdara has raised an interesting point, and one that I know people are divided on.
He wants to know what flag the Irish rugby team carry. By extension, I think he’s asking what flag they should carry.
My personal view is the the tricolour is not the appropriate flag because the Irish rugby team represents more of Ireland than simply the Republic. The same applies to the anthem sung. However, I know full well that others take a very different view.
What do you reckon?
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UPDATE
Forget the flag and the anthem. After that performance with Georgia, the real question is who to put up against a wall first.
Stumble it!
September 14th, 2007
What flag & anthem do they use for Great Britain when they compete in events - doesn’t that cover Scotland & Wales also??
September 14th, 2007
The reasoning behind the tricolour was that it would be inclusive for all of Ireland, what was once referred to as the “national territory” in the constitution before we voted those offending articles away, the orange was meant to be for the orange crowd, etc. however seeing as how the flag has been more assocaited with republicanism and the IRA except for a brief period when the beloved Jack Charlton managed the soccer team when we had the free use of the tricolour without shame. It is a hard pill for the northern lads to swallow to make them go under the flag of the Republic of Ireland at the same time when Ireland bate England in Croker both the National Anthem and the Rugby Anthem were played, let both flags be flown is my humble opinion, ie the provinces flag and the tricolour.
After the performance against Namibia the flag waving may be short lived………
September 15th, 2007
Life’s too short to be getting all worked up about a piece of cloth and a song. I like things just the way they are - both flags & tunes when we play at home, but out of respect for other nations’ fans not having to wait an extra half hour for their match to kickoff when they play us, just the one compromise version of each. Now let’s play ball.
September 15th, 2007
This has already been dealt with in a semi diplomatic fashion.
(I actually spotted this at the beginning of last weeks game but forgot about it until now). The flag that was held up before kickoff was some sorta combination of the four provincial flags/crests. i.e. red hand, crowns, harp, etc. This was when they were playing the god awful “four proud provinces” yoke.
If you have a look tomorrow then you will see it again I’m sure. Someone obviously thought of this long before now as this is not the first World cup. I must away off and do a trawl to see if’n I can find it. It’s not a Rep. of Ireland team like the Soccer dontcha know….
September 15th, 2007
http://www.irishrugby.ie/images/news/IRFU_Flag.jpg
Yup this is It I think.
September 15th, 2007
Well as i said i not against Irelands call but the flag is inclusive and was always meant as such so whats the issue of using it.
Lets highlight the orange not hide it using my Family Crest which is the Red hand.
September 15th, 2007
i’m all for everyone playing happy families with regards to the flag but isn’t the ulster crest(with the yellow background) the crest for the nine county ulster as in donegal cavan monaghanas as well as the other six !!!! so isn’t just the same as a tricolour???
September 15th, 2007
It should be a flag with a picture of Ginger McLoughlin carrying 50 lads on his back before putting it down for a try.
Either that or the logo for Orrs Jeans.
September 15th, 2007
I despise Ireland’s Call, something to the tune of the Derriere (London/Derry Air) would do fine.
As for the flag… if the Four Provinces is too cheesy (a la Mitchelstown) then I suggest a red hand stroking a golden harp on a field of white would do.
September 15th, 2007
After this evening’s performance, I’m thinking theme music from the muppet show may now be the way to go.
September 15th, 2007
Bock, it’s eating my comments! Wahh!
September 15th, 2007
What I said was,
WTF? Is there something going on behind the scenes with the Irish team that we’re not aware of? That was agony to watch.
September 15th, 2007
*this stupid american is just going to read your comments*
September 16th, 2007
Savannah,
The quick explanation is that the Irish rugby team includes the bit know as “NORN IRELIN” whereas soccer has separate teams (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), in athletics etc the Nortdie folk are part of the Great Britain teams.
The problem was to come up with an anthem to play before the games as the National anthems of both teams are played before all international Rugby matches. Hence the to-be-forever-damned-yoke known as “Ireland’s Call”. Usually both Ireland’s call and The Irish national anthem are played when Ireland play at home but only Irelands call when Ireland play away. The discussion is about the flag to be raised during the Rugby World Cup. That’s if I’m to take you literally in regard to not understanding of course. Otherwise ure just staying out of the discussion deliberately and stating so :-)
In regard to the shambles that was tonight, it would appear according to his royal hookness on newstalk FM that all is bloody well not well in camp. (That was after he called Eddie O’ Sullivan insane and hysterical following the television/radio interview and the rest of the Newstalk guys told Hooky to go away and compose himself and took an ad break…..) I can only assume that our revered Hooky was frothing at the mouth, god I miss him from the telly along with McGuirk and Brent Pope. The TV3 coverage is complete drivel, tonight Matt Cooper resorted to slagging Jim Glennon about Fianna fail tendencies for Spin ffsake. He may be right but a flaming Post Match discussion is not the place for that when they should have been ripping EOS a bloody great new one as the former RTE greats surely would have.
No there is summat definitely rotten in the state of Donnybrook…. and until the guys get heir shit together or someone gets their shit together then we look likely to lose by fifty points to france. Not that Georgia were bad mind you and I’m always one to root for the underdog. They made hay and quite rightly celebrated it afterwards.
September 16th, 2007
Can’t reply individually due to being too drunk after meeting the Hangar Queen, of which more anon.
Rugby Football: what the fuck was that tonight? The most embarrassing performance I have ever seen by people in green shirts, including soccer players.
What the fuck???
September 16th, 2007
Worst performance ever!
But the post match interviews with O’Sullivan and O’Driscoll were truly bizarre. There must be dodgy psychologists at work with that group of people. It was like they were all under the calm spell of a hypnotist. There was no connection between what they were saying and reality. But it was the certainty with what they were saying that was really disturbing.
I would’ve felt a lot better if they just came out and said it was crap, and they’ll really need to get the finger out this week.
September 16th, 2007
They *looked* hypnotised. There’s something funny going on, I swear … I’d like to have a spy in the camp when they get to Paris. Are they doped? Is someone lacing their tea? It’s too weird …
September 16th, 2007
mobydickler…i was serious, sugar…thank you for the explanation!
September 16th, 2007
Hope the meet went fablously.
As for the match… they’re past their prime and they’re not remotely sharp. Georgia were a really well organised side and deserved a win. Only thing the Irish team did right was not give away penalties when the Georgians systematically bulldozed their way towards our goal line.
September 16th, 2007
Maybe it is all part of a cunning plan to lull france and argentina into a false sense of security?
September 16th, 2007
OK. The hangover is nearly gone, and I’m able to at least sit upright.
Gary: Planet Eddie is falling into a black hole. A serious disruption of the rugby space-time continuum, in my opinion. They should reverse the shield polarity and run a level-three diagnostic.
Nora: No. They’re fucking mad.
Savannah: It’s a bit complicated. Something like the flag issues you have in the South.
Conan: The meet was great.
Rugby-wise we’re fucked after the french game tonight.
Flity: that’s probably it all right. Including the cunning plan to drop a bonus point just to fool them.
September 17th, 2007
As good as it gets from Oireland, really. The Bull did what he does, Rory Best scored a try and when Fla came on he made things better, Marcus was obvious around the field. Paulie and Doncha couldn’t be faulted, Leamy played excellently and Wally was much improved and very effective. Easterby had a quiet game again, and should be changed now. Stringer did OK and unfortunately became the sacrificial lamb, O’Gara ( apart from some line kicks) couldn’t be faulted . The backs collectively moved the ball well, tackled when asked and played their hearts out .
So, what’s wrong ? Answer nothing. This is as good as it gets really .Match says more about Georgia then Oireland.
As yourself this question . How would Wales , Scotland , Italy or England have done against Georgia. Or maybe we’re part of the great delusion that brackets us with the All Blacks, Australia, South Africa and France. It’s the triple crown we won, not the Blesidoe cup.
September 17th, 2007
I respectfully suggest a square flag. Only Mr bock knows why.
September 17th, 2007
“After that performance with Georgia, the real question is who to put up against a wall first.”
Seems it’s to be Stringer, strung up and hung out to dry. No French match for him.
September 17th, 2007
Sniffle & Cry: Much though I hate to disagree with you, I have to disagree with you.
O Connell was shite. He and O Callaghan never contested the Georgia lineout.
The Bull was ok scrummaging and that’s about it.
O Gara never tried to pin them in the corners. In fact, he didn’t seem to know what to do.
Stringer had no platform to work from because the tight five weren’t operating as a unit, maybe because they have no self-belief. Now he’s been thrown to the dogs.
O Driscoll, the captain, instead of motivating, spends his entire time abusing his players.
Sorry, but I don’t believe this is as good as it gets. I think there’s something seriously wrong in the camp, and I think it starts with EOS.
Darwin: That might be our only hope. A fucking miracle.
Conan: Indeed. When all along, it should have been Fast Eddie wearing the blindfold.
September 17th, 2007
Fair nuff and thanks Bock, I see where you’re coming from. EOS never did it for me anyway so it’s easy to pander to my bias but I still don’t think we’re world beaters. Argentina has beaten France 5 of the last 6 times they played. We beat France once in the past 30 ish years ( could be wrong ). Argentina beat Georgia by 30 odd points, and that quantifies how much they are better then us ( 20 -> 30 ) . They’ve all improved, we haven’t, but we are good as we’ve ever been. Blame Tracy and Ryle for the expectation, sure Tracy luvs Eddie !