HAVING CAPTAINED CONNACHT to an incredible triumph in the Guinness Pro12 in May, it’s probably safe to say that John Muldoon has no regrets about how his sporting career transpired.
However, the Ireland international flanker admits that he only took up rugby at the age of 14 or 15 in order to keep himself fit while the GAA season was on a break during the winter.
“Before that it was all about hurling and dreaming of being Joe Cooney,” Muldoon says. “Little did I realise back then that I’d be playing for Connacht many years later.”
Although he didn’t get a run in the final, Muldoon was actually a member of the Galway panel that defeated Cork in the 2000 All-Ireland minor hurling decider at Croke Park.
One of the stars of that side was his Portumna team-mate Damien Hayes: “John was always a phenomenal athlete. He had legs like tree trunks. To say that he made it as a rugby player, no I wasn’t surprised, being honest. He was just a naturally built talent.”
Muldoon will reflect on his hurling days on tonight’s episode of Thank GAA It’s Friday, which airs on RTÉ 2 from 8.30pm. Here’s a teaser…
National governments and medical authorities will decide when fans return to rugby stadiums and what measures are needed to for players to return to training, not World Rugby.
@Mark Wallace: think it’s fair enough for them to lay out their position on it though. It’d be far worse to be sitting on their hands.
@Jim Demps: agreed Jim. They have to be somewhat proactive.
@Jim Demps: But it’s not up to them. FIFA aren’t telling football asssociations that they can’t have crowds or how their players can train. It up to national authorities, as seen with the different approaches in countries like Germany and Spain against the total ban approach taken in France and Netherlands.
@Mark Wallace: you’re right, it’s not up to them, that’s why this report is simply laying out guidelines for a return, not a de facto ruling. Each countries govt will liaise with its own union who in turn are advised by World rugby.
@Mark Wallace: World Rugby didn’t make any assumptions on when there would be a return. They mention thats for goverments. What they are doing is planning on possible outcomes, so when there are goverment changes they can react quickly. Also by out lining there may not be a return to large crowds untill there is a vaccine, it lets the Unions plan a bit better, knowing they may have a very reduced income untill that point. Its a sensible document and doesn’t rise above its station as you suggest.
In that case there may never be large crowds at a game again
@David Kelly: Luckily Munster have been practicing social distancing at Thomond Park for a decade. Finally, they have an opportunity to contribute something to Irish rugby and show us how it’s done!
Water is wet