CONOR MCGREGOR IS the man the Irish rugby team would love to get a motivational speech from.
The two-division UFC champion is top of the players’ wish-list according to Ireland manager Mick Kearney.
Kearney is responsible for organising guest speakers to address the squad. They come from a wide range of backgrounds, mainly high achievers from the sport and business worlds.
“I organised Usain Bolt, Rory McIlroy, Barry McGuigan, Niall Quinn, Sonia O’Sullivan, lots of good sportspeople, to talk to the lads but the one person they really want to get in now is Conor McGregor,” Kearney told The Daily Mail.
“They felt I might be able to pull that off before I left. I’ve a connection through someone I know to his coach John Kavanagh.
“If I can assist when I’m gone I will do that, but as I said to Paul I have to leave somebody for him to get because we have got a lot of the good ones in.”
Kearney is wrapping up his tenure with the team after today’s test match against Australia, which will wrap up Ireland’s Autumn Series. Ex-Ireland international Paul Dean will take his place.
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Its not every week you would have a South African cutting all ties in playing with his country to play for Ireland. I would say best of luck to him. He might teach the Ulster players the national anthem is well.
Delighted to have you Mr Strauss. The more of you the better. Who needs home-grown players anyway? Big Jack certainly showed us how!
agree. what has nationailty got to do with anything anyway. surely, the days of ‘nationailsm’ are over (except for enterprises like The Shakedown). ireland is made up of people from all over the place now. if you live here, why not be allowed to play for the irish team?
@Ian
Over the years, many Ulster players were threatened by Loyalists about singing the National Anthem so many still don’t
What do ya mean? Sure wasn’t Tommy Bowe belting it out!
To expect Northern players to sing the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland is as ludicrous as expecting the Southern players to sing God Save the Queen
They are playing for IRELAND. They should sing the IRISH anthem. It’s about time we did away with that clap trap Ireland’s Call….such an embarrassment. Likening it to the southern lads singing god save the queen is a ludicrous argument. It’s the IRISH rugby team!
@PatD
Yes, its the IRISH rugby team, not the Rep of Ireland rugby team. If Richardt wanted to show his commitment to the country he has made his home then I have no problem with it (and fair play to him for it). Just as I have no problem with any of the lads taking pride in signing their national anthem on home soil. But its not the anthem of the team nor should it be. The team is made up of Irish men from every county including those in NI, it transcends political borders and all the shíte that goes with bickering over those borders and long may it stay that way.
New Zealand have been doing exactly the same thing with Fuji and Samoa for years!
Congratulations to Richard. We’re delighted to have you.
If i was Rory best id be an extremely worried hooker
Tommy Bowe is an Ulsterman true, but also a Monaghan man.
Actually a Kildare man. Born and bred in Rathangan. Go and ask him…
The family did move to Monaghan afterwards I might add. Not to offend the Monaghan clan.
Strauss has a way to go yet to match Besty. Rory Best has one of the highest tackle counts in Irish rugby, hits his man and is a very good scrummager. The only hooker in Ireland needing to be worried is Cronin, who could see his bench place taken by Richardt.
The most important thing is he wants to play for Ireland after that if he’s the best ( no pun intended ) hooker then he plays. I’m happy he’s with us.
Chris, some sort of record – 48 thumbs up and no thumbs down!!!
Straussy is a legend!! Loved him singing the anthem
absolutely
hypocrisy,if o Driscoll or paul o Connell cut all ties with Ireland and joined England and sang god save the queen you’d all be out with your pitchfork and flaming torches baying for blood
As far as i know a former ulster player , Irish born and bred, recently declared for the scotch
your irish now boy keep up the good work
delighted to see Richardt declaring for Ireland, best of luck in your international carreer