Sports Fans Are Debating Whether Rugby Is Now The ‘People’s Game’ In Ireland

Ireland has always been a nation of sport lovers and our history is punctuated with great moments of individual and team brilliance. Enter any household in the country and you’re bound to find a GAA jersey or an old soccer medal won by a member of the clan back in the day.

The aforementioned sports have been two of the major passions of Irish people for generations, with soccer particularly coming to the fore during the Jack Charlton era and Italia ’90. 

Since rugby turned professional in the mid-’90s however, there’s been something of a ‘new kid on the block’ when it comes to capturing the attention of the Irish public. Every year during the Six Nations, pubs are packed as people discuss the inner workings of Johnny Sexton’s kicking technique but has rugby now caught up with Ireland’s other big sports?

This very debate was sparked on RTÉ’s Against The Head last night and it’s fair to say a number of people online were left scoffing at the very idea. The panel pointed to an increase in the number of people playing and watching rugby while on the other side of the coin, people pointed out that the number of rugby clubs in the country are still dwarfed by GAA and soccer. Take a look at the clip below and the reactions that follow and let us know what you think. 

Is rugby now the people’s game? The #AgainstTheHead panel debate the issue #rterugby Full discussion here https://t.co/7R57llbHLm pic.twitter.com/OFLeEzIdp3

— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 5, 2018

Rugby is a fantastic sport but until I see rugby balls in every school in the country, you can’t call it the people’s game. Elitism still exists. https://t.co/PPBGPDB1GF

— Conor Culkin (@ConorCulkin) March 6, 2018

Rugby people can ask the question but they won’t like the answer https://t.co/yglPcmNtID

— Darren Cleary (@RadioCleary) March 6, 2018