Weekend Rugby: A Defiant Symbol of New Maturity
Brandon | February 26, 2007I’m sure everyone here at Dublin Blog is exceedingly happy that the weekend’s rugby match went so well. I’ve spoken to several Irish people who saw it as another small (though important) step towards reconciliation between Ireland and England.Â
Leading up to the match, people that I spoke with seemed quite confident that there wouldn’t be any trouble from the few who might be tempted to use the occasion as an excuse for violence or thuggery. One newspaper that I read while waiting for a haircut seemed to make a lot out of a few bloggers who were writing some inflammatory and politically incorrect nonsense. Turns out, it was probably just the media doing their usual job at sensationalizing things for a good story.Â
With that said, it also seems that there is still a measurable amount of tension in Irish society when it comes to the “occupied territoryâ€? in the North. I’d never even heard that perspective from any Irish people until seeing that alleged blog quote in the newspaper.  My understanding as a foreigner is that most Irish people would prefer a united Ireland, but wouldn’t go as far as calling Northern Ireland “occupied territory.â€? Does that sound about right, or am I more of a clueless Yankee than I realize? (Be nice, now.)   =)
Here’s my favourite line in yesterday’s Irish Independent: “This was more than a rugby match between Ireland and England, it was a defiant symbol of new maturity and a confident battle cry that we will no longer be prisoners of the past.â€? Despite my inability to fully understand and appreciate these historical and cultural dynamics, it’s good to see this kind positive, hope-filled perspective.
I think the positive conduct of the crowd in Croke Park showed a definite maturity and I was so glad that respect was shown for the English team and their supporters. I read somewhere “that 80 minutes almost makes up for 800 years of opression”. Theres truth in it!
Someone mentioned to me last week that the potential for trouble was more an issue in the pubs after the match than anything. Supposedly, the “gentlemanly” nature of rugby wouldn’t allow for that kind of thing at the match itself.
I’m curious about what kind of coverage the match got in England. Rugby doesn’t seem to even show up on people’s radar there, for the most part. But given the significance of this game, I wonder.
I knew there was never going to be anything major. Irish soccer fans are probably the best behaved national supporters in world soccer, and world wide, fans of rugby union are probably the most civilised of any major sport. It stands to reason that cross the two and you’ll wind up with a mature and capable audience.
The problem, if any, was going to be a small minority group. I’m delighted that the tiny group of idiots[1] protesting were corralled far from proceedings and it was delightful to note that there were more o2 marketing reps in attendance (and receiving more attention from the crowd).
1. E.g. Suspect No. One: Celtic wearing bearing “No to foreign sports” placard.
That picture just cracked me up so so much when I saw it!!