Great Irish Rugby Wins

Rugby U-20 World Cup

Ireland 33;  New Zealand 24

Ireland's under-20 rugby team, under manager Nigel Carolan, became the first men's team representing the country to beat New Zealand's All Blacks. This afternoon, at Manchester City Academy Stadium, they had an emphatic victory over the current world champions whose country is the king-pin of international rugby. Max Deegan got the match-winning try. While there were heroes throughout the team, the great place-kicking of Bill Johnston and the superb Irish pack proved decisive.

International Test Series

South Africa 20; Ireland 26

Today, 14-man Ireland beat the Springboks on South African soil for the first time in front of 42,000 stunned fans at Newlands. Paddy Jackson, who played superbly at fly-half, kicked a drop-goal to level the score at the break; he also converted three penalty kicks as well as tries by Jared Payne and Conor Murray.

While I am primarily a GAA person, I have great affection for Irish Rugby whose teams unite the whole island.