Call to end 'Ireland's Call' anthem at rugby matches

Sinead - please behave yourself, I know a wee bit about socialism and you obviously don't - but then again this is about sport NOT politics but you can't get that into your head can you ! I only remember Dick playing once - I'm sure with your superior knowledge of rugby you'll be able to google it. I'll try and find this interview but to be honest I don't think it exists. BTW you also have no knowledge of IOC at all and yet again I have some experience of this having gone through the hoops getting an Irish representative team together for an international competition in Slovakia (under the auspices of the IOC). Please refrain from showing your ignorance again - you're an outsider in our sport and your input is unwelcome and unasked for, respect is something you obviously only have a passing interest in - and only when it can be used as a stick. And don't attribute comments to me that I haven't made - another nasty habit from the myopic few.

Setanta - I think he played 3 games for Ireland (which was a miracle that a Munster man would get one game, let alone 3 - they must have been badly stuck at the time). Point is I'm making is that Spring would know all about Irish rugby and he would have played when the troubles were at their worst. He was also one of the architects of the Peace Process. He spoke about the anthem in an interview just prior to the first Ireland v England game in Croke Park on RTE Radio. And no Setanta, he wasn't playing to the gallery looking for votes as he was well retired from politics at that stage. And Setanta - I don't think you have much clue about socialism! Re Olympics - you have to be a recognised country to get to the olympics and that is why its a UK team and not individual home nations. However, most these teams compete in other competitions, not just the Olympics. The ice hockey team (a recent sport in Ireland) even have orange on their clothing. Some of you could learn a thing about respect from the young fellow from the Sandy Row who actually carried the tricolour (I'd be pretty sure he wouldn't have been forced to do that!).

I'm glad you appreciate that you are a fool in respect of this. Dick Spring played one game and was dropped - a bit like the ball that went to him, and yes if he advocated something that would effectively split the team he was spouting devise drivel.Can you please refer me to Dicks' piece advocating the ROI Anthem to be adopted as the IRFUs 'song' ? If I remember correctly was Dick not a labour man ? hardly a socialist outlook !

SineadN - You've answered your own question by pointing out that he was a politician. He was playing to the gallery of his own voters. No votes to be gained and plenty to be lost by saying that A na B should not be played. He was also a shite full back. I still remember when he dropped the ball in front of the posts and lost a game against Wales. Thankfully he was dropped after that and never selected again.

SineadN - the Olympics are different. The IOC only recognise Olympic associations of individual nations and that forces the split between the Republic of Ireland and GB & NI Olympic teams. Athletes from N Ireland can and do opt for either team. The IRB and a number of other sports do not do this. Hence rugby has teams that are part of countries and teams covering more than one country.

Setanta - I'm not the only fool. One Dick Spring, former Foreign Minster for ROI (during the time of the Peace Process) and former Full Back for Ireland said much the same thing as I have (that AnaB should be played at all games). Bearing in mind he was one of the architects of the Peace Process and Good Friday Agreement, do you think he was selling devisive drivel when he said that?

SineadN from what you write I can only assume you are a rugby fan from way back, and with your in depth knowledge and understanding of the players mentallity you are either a player yourself or a prominent sports psychologist... Ever hear the term keep politics out of sport ? You really are a fool. As Irish rugby players & supporters we don't care what people like you think - when everything was in flames the only non-secterian, cross border sport was rugby, always was always will be. So go somewhere else to sell your devisive drivel.

Redhanded - I'm well aware that it is not an ROI team (though in fairness, its the ROI that funds it by providing stadia and state grants which keeps the IRFU afloat). The Ireland team is a combination of NI & ROI so lets have two anthems. btw, Boxing, Ice Hockey (and all the olympic sports) use AnaB. Indeed, I believe a young boxer from the Sandy Row carried the tricolour into a competition when he was captaining the team - he also learned the words of An na B and sang it proudly. Personally I would have no problem with GSTQ being played alongside AnaB. After all the UK flag flies in Dublin alongside the tricolour for EU meetings etc. The problem with GSTQ is not that it would be inappropriate, but that the Welsh & Scots would boo it! You (and England) need your own anthem.

SineadN - can you not get your head around that the team does not represent the Republic of Ireland? It is more than that. Ireland has had players born in other countries like England, NZ, S Africa who aren't citizens of the Republic of Ireland. Should they have their anthems played as well? Or only if they cry? If you want an anthem that represents N Ireland, then what about God Save the Queen? But not many think that would be appropriate it. Like it or not, if you want an all-Ireland institution like the Ireland rugby team, there needs to be compromise, and that compromise means A na B does not represent the team. By the way - cricket is the same. Its an all-Ireland sport and they don't use A na B.

redhanded - can you not get your head around the fact that teams are made up of people, who have a country/nationality. Think of John Hayes' tears during A na B - he is getting his 100th cap this weekend - and his anthem won't be played. We all know that the Ireland situation is unusual (but you can't compare us to the Lions - they don't compete in 6Ns, RWCs - they are a touring side). No one is trying to deny NI's involvement in the team - you should have your anthem, and please let us have ours.

SineadN - they aren't playing for their country because the Ireland rugby team isn't a republic of Ireland team - it is made up from two countries. Are the Irish players playing for the UK when they play for the British & Irish Lions? No... because that team is also made up from different countries. The IRFU has selected Irelands Call to represent the entire team. A na b just represents part of it so it isn't appropriate to represent the team.

redhanded- they are playing for their country (which happens to be the ROI). Their national anthem is A na bhF. I'm sure they would be very happy to stand for a NI anthem out of respect to the NI born players & supporters (as I would be too) if there was one - I can't understand why you don't use the anthem you use in the Commmonwealth Games). I don't know what you are rabbiting on about meeting the Queen. Of course we understand how much the Queen means to NI players. Anyway, shouldn't the NI born players be proud to meet Mary McAleese - she is from Belfast, isn't she?

SineadN: the players know full well who they are playing for - and it isn't a Republic of Ireland team. After all, when Tommy Bowe, Jamie Heaslip, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and more met the Queen last year following their Grand Slam win, O'Driscoll said: "I think the players from the Republic understand what the Queen means as much as the northern players do to the southern players when they meet Mary McAleese. "So it's a reciprocation and an understanding and it's another opportunity to be patted on the back, so that can't be a bad thing," he said. "

Redhanded - tell John Hayes, Tommy Bowe, Jamie Heaslip, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy etc. that they are playing for a rugby union! Brian O'Driscoll does not captain the 4 Provinces of Ireland. They put up with the situation - but perhaps you might show some respect to who these players are and who they represent in the same way as respect has been shown to NI players. Irishrugy - Its the anthem of the PEOPLE of the republic of Ireland (Irish nation). There is a difference.

More ignorance from kickstar. "If you put on an Irish jersey then you are part of the Irish Team" No you aren't. You are representing the Irish Rugby Football Union that is made up from 4 branches representing the provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.