Irish Rugby

It seems there is a storm brewing between the IRFU and Largo Foods over their new Hunky Dory advertisment. The ad features the tag line which claims Hunky Dorys to be ‘Proud Sponsors of Irish Rugby’. The Irish Rugby Football Union has made contact, through its solicitors, with Largo Foods, the distributors of Hunky Dorys, and requested that they immediately withdraw the current advertising campaign

Padraig Power, Commercial and Marketing Director, IRFU, stated: “This advertising campaign is in very bad taste and one which the IRFU would not want to be associated with in any way”.
“Firstly, its blatant exploitation of women is tasteless and base, and quite simply unacceptable. Irish Rugby has a strong family focus and would not tolerate any connection with such an approach”.

“Secondly, the claim that the product is a ‘Proud Sponsor of Irish Rugby’ implies that the company is a significant sponsor of the game in this country, though the IRFU. This is absolutely untrue and a cynical ploy in an attempt to capitalise on the games popularity. By doing so it has the potential to undermine the legitimate claims of the many
genuine sponsors and supporters of Irish Rugby whose investment has been a key element in the success of rugby at grass roots level throughout the country, and of our Provincial and National Teams”.

“In addition to pursuing the immediate withdrawal of the campaign through legal means we are also writing to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland bringing to their attention the misleading claims”.

“We would hope that the management of Largo Foods would withdraw the campaign immediately”.

Firstly I have to agree with the Blazers in the IRFU. This is not the type of ad one would associate with Irish Rugby, but I also have to commend the genious at Hunky Dory’s who came up with ad. 10/10 for content.

also a video from the guys at Hunky Dory. Click Here

Donncha O’Callaghan has been ruled out of this weekends opening 6 nations match against Italy. O’Callaghan suffered a setback with a knock he to to the Knee on Wednesday. This means Leo Cullen moves into the starting 15 and Donnacha Ryan makes the bench.

Denis Hurley, Niall Ronan, Tony Buckley, Ian Dowling, Marcus Horan, Mick O’Driscoll an Peter Stringer have all been included in the 20 man squad with the remaining two positions to be decided after Kidney names his squad today.

Soon to be Munsterman Jonhe Murphy has also been included in the side. Marcus Horan inclusion suggests a lack of match fitness and with Jerry Flannery also a doubt due to lack of game time and injury, The game against Italy could see a front row without a Munster player in it if the Bull were to come off, with Cian Healy likely to start at 1 and and a potential first cap for John Fogarty.  Shocking stuff really

Found a great interview by Victor Matfield from News24 SA.

Matfield was stunned when he noticed in the second line-out that O Connell was able to count in Afrikaans, he couldn’t believe it.

“After the second lineout we discovered that Gert (Smal) had to have given the Irish some Afrikaans lessons, because they could read the calls. We tried to change things thereafter, which did not work either. In the second half, it went slightly better, but this was the worst lineout contest I have ever had in my life,” said Matfield after his team lost 10-15 to Ireland. Read the rest of this entry »

Both the Ireland and Ireland A squads have been announced for this weekends matches. Ireland A take on Argentina Jaguares at Tallaght Stadium with a 7.30pm kick-off, while Ireland take on South Africa in Croker at 2.30pm Saturday. Kidney has show before he has no problem mixing it up and this selection is no different

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Two tries from Keith Earls in Ireland’s 41 -6 points win over Fiji showed just how much of a threat he is to any opposition defence.

With Luke Fitzgerald sidelined due to injury, Earls was handed the opportunity to show his class when given the starting place on the wing against Fiji. Read the rest of this entry »

Keith Earls, who replaced the injured Luke Fitzgerald against Australia, will retain his place on the wing. Fitzgearld is out for up to 6 months through injury and the gives Keith the perfect opportunity to cement a place on the Irish starting 15.

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7 Munster players feature in Declan Kidneys starting 15 to face Australia, with Keith Earls and Denis Leamy on the bench

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