A chara, – As we revel in our Six Nations glory, I suggest lovers of Irish rugby take this moment to reflect on the changing nature of our sport. With 205 clubs now affiliated to the IRFU across the island, no longer is rugby the preserve of upper middle class, privately educated males.
Lamentably, while a love of the game has begun to transcend class and gender lines, accessibility has not. There remains in the sport a breath-taking inequality of opportunity that sees provincial academies continue to largely favour school players over those trained by clubs. In my own province of Leinster, the Senior Schools Cup has been won by only one non-fee paying school in its 128-year history, a searing indictment of the elitist nature of this competition. For those of us harbouring aspirations for a rugby career from lower down the social class scale, one must wonder if it is the case that opportunity simply goes “against the feed”. Irish rugby has the capacity to lift national morale, penetrate borders, and enhance our international reputation. Let’s harness this power; in schools and in clubs, in our players and in our coaches, in supporters, in all those who wish to take part. Let’s combat the social exclusion that sadly has become a hallmark of the game. – Is mise,
CLÁR
NÍ CHONCHUBHAIR,
Nás na Ríogh, Co Chill Dara.