Ireland came second in the parliamentary Rugby World Cup played last week in Rugby, London and Cardiff. Team captain, FG deputy Jimmy Deenihan told Quidnunc as he left the field on Wednesday that the Oireachtas team had won all its three matches in its group, defeating Japan by 35 pts to 20, France by 37 to 22 and England by 17 to five. New Zealand carried off the trophy because, said Deenihan, their scoring record was greater than ours.
Deenihan was joined by Simon Coveney and former TD, M.J. Nolan and by well-known players Jack Purcell and Niall Caniffe and golden oldies Bob Jeffers, Michael Begley and Pat Coakley. "It was very competitive," said Deenihan. "J.P.R. Williams was on the England team, but although he is still very fit he did not penetrate the staunch Irish defence. We took it seriously and we had a mix and youth and experience and very good leadership. Dail ushers Eoin O'Flaherty and Dessie Cullen came for support."
Deenihan, not known for a casual attitude to sport himself, was put out by the New Zealanders. They took it far too seriously, he said, and never appeared at any reception. He told the closing dinner in Cardiff Castle that the Irish approached the tournament in the true spirit of competition, both on and off the field. Despite losing he was pleased, because at the last World Cup in South Africa the Oireachtas XV failed to win a game.