Rugby Nuts!

Ireland has gone completely rugby nuts over the past week thanks in no small part to a piece of silverware called the Heineken Cup!

While this column believes that Munster was robbed in the semi-final, we are big enough to congratulate the Leinster lads on a job well done.

Rugby is played in over 100 countries across the world but did you know that Dublin is the head office for the Lions Tour?

I didn’t, until it was brought to my attention by Fianna Fail MEP Eoin Ryan who is a bit of a rugby buff himself!

“Our city is the centre of international decision making for the game,” he proudly said after laying his hands on the Heineken Cup over the weekend.

And he wants to spread the love - by getting increased funding for schools rugby in areas of Dublin not traditionally associated with the game.

“Now is the time to capitalise on the huge success of Irish and Leinster rugby, by taking the game into areas of Dublin such as Tallaght / Clondalkin, Coolmine and Blanchardstown / Finglas where rugby hasn’t been developed.”

“The interest in playing rugby by schoolchildren is growing in these areas and funding from EU sport grants can be used to develop the game to support these clubs,” he said.