Players spend 10 mins for pre match preliminaries

weatherguy

Why do we have to have the President attend all our international rugby matches?
No disrespect to Mary McAleese, but why?

We have her arriving pitchside with the playing of the Presidential salute, then the national anthems of both teams plus Ireland's Call.

Why?

Can't the two teams just stand to attention for the playing of both national anthems and then get to it?

Why all the pomp and ceremony?

There was no dignatary at the Eng V ALl Blacks match last weekend.

It's ridiculous and players who have already warmed up for the match are standing for ten minutes for this rubbish to take place. Easy for them to pull a muscle when the game starts.

phog

It's been happening for years and how many players have pulled muscles from the standing around.

Ireland isn't the only country that has this ceremony.

thehighground

Its a big thing to get a cap for/represent your country. The President is the representative of this country. She represents us in welcoming the opposition team to our country and wishing our team good luck against them.

Take away this ceremony and it would seem no different from a club game.

Teferi

I reckon she deserves it as it is a break from opening libraries :pac:

toomevara

Lets stick to discussing the rugby. Thanks