As he prepares to mark a special occasion for rugby in Galway, the former Ireland captain reflects on his student days, Connacht’s dashing style and the significance of the recent win in South Africa for Andy Farrell’s team
Ciarán Fitzgerald: ‘The IRFU has produced a model the world of rugby envies’“Galway is really intimate at the moment but back then even more so because everybody knew everybody, and every faculty was involved in each other’s achievements and celebrations, be it rag week or sports.”The rugby, hurling and Gaelic football teams all supported each other and Fitzgerald trained with the rowing team. The university had a family feel to it and, even with expansion, has tried to retain that.
Ciarán Fitzgerald and Noel Mannion for Ireland against Fiji in 1985. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho As well as playing all his career for Connacht, Fitzgerald also briefly coached the province before he was promoted to Irish head coach from 1990 to 1992. In an overall sense, allowing for the 2016 Pro12 triumph, Fitzgerald cannot recall Connacht ever being in ruder health.
The highlight was leading out Ireland at the old Lansdowne Road for the first time in the 1982 Five Nations opener against Wales. “I’d been injured the season before and we’d lost all six games narrowly. For the life of me I don’t know how we lost them all and the pack was being written off. But they were great players, many of them Lions, and here was yours truly leading out Dad’s Army.
“I’ve always thought that the profile and physique of the Irish players is very similar to New Zealand, not like the South African, French or English. We’re the same body build, and skill is our key, and we have skill in lots of other sports, like GAA. “But that second match down in South Africa against that physical challenge was outrageous in some respects. Given South Africa were at home and on the crest of a wave, it was an incredible rugby achievement, and will give them a great lift this season. I’ve no doubt now that the progress will continue.”
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