The Picture IRFU did not want you to see

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/the-picture-the-irfu-didn-t-want-you-to-see-1.1708722



Since beginning a series of columns for The Irish Times last month, Lynne Cantwell, Ireland’s most capped women’s rugby player, had nothing but triumphs to reflect on after a momentous 12 months for the national team, She has, though, also being giving a wonderful insight into the struggles the players have had to endure through the years to reach the level they have now attained.

All those efforts, of course, paid off beautifully last year when the team won the Grand Slam, and they opened the current Six Nations campaign with two more victories, a 59-0 drubbing of Scotland and a considerably tighter 14-6 defeat of Wales. All of which set up that Triple Crown match in Twickenham last weekend. It wasn’t to be.

“The game itself flew by,” wrote Cantwell on Thursday. “The overwhelming emotion was dictated by the scoreboard: 17-10. In the immediate aftermath nothing else mattered.”

After the initial disappointment, though, she was able to savour the experience. “One of the proudest moments as Ireland players was playing on the same stage as our male counterparts in the most famous rugby stadium in the world. It doesn’t lessen the disappointment of missing out on a Triple Crown, but it is something we can always say we were a part of. That matters.”

County jerseys
And, she wrote, what helped lighten the mood after the defeat was an idea that “our legendary secondrow Mary Louise Reilly” came up with. “She suggested we get a picture in Twickers with all our respective GAA county jerseys. When would we get such a chance again? We got to work organising this and, of course, Dan Sheridan [a photographer with Inpho] was there to take the shot. A few girls were missing due to random drug testing but it put a much needed smile across all our faces, snapping us out of the initial low of losing such a tight game.”

A beautiful, colourful photo it is too, the most striking aspect the display of the range of counties represented by this Irish team, when assumptions are often made that beyond Dublin 4, Cork, Limerick and Belfast rugby has little reach.

So, naturally enough, it was decided the photo would be perfect to accompany Cantwell’s column, seeing as she referred to it, the Irish Rugby Football Union was contacted to request a higher resolution for publication.

Are you sensing a “but”?

There’s a big one.

No can do, was the gist of the message, principally because the team is now sponsored by AON Insurance and the players in the photo were wearing GAA jerseys featuring sundry other sponsors. And because the photo was taken privately.

At which point our inner John McEnroe emerged, in a “you cannot be serious?” kind of way.

But Stephen McNamara, the IRFU’s director of communications, requested that the photo not be used, by now our heads sore from the scratching.

Newspapers have become accustomed to being requested to use photos featuring sponsors’ names, often in return for an interview with a sports star, but it’s rare enough to be asked not to use a particular image.

Last year, Bayern Munich fined their new signing Mario Gotze for, rather hilariously, wearing a Nike T-shirt to his official unveiling, when the club is sponsored and part-owned by adidas. They were, then, understandably peeved, but it’s unlikely that AON Insurance would be concerned about the names visible in the rugby team’s photo, among them “Hospice” on a Roscommon shirt and “Arnotts” on a dated Dublin jersey.

All a little silly, really. Especially at a time when women’s rugby, on the back of last year’s success, is making significant strides in attracting young girls in to the sport all around the country, and an image like this demonstrates that most of those young girls have very local heroines and role models.

Anyway, here it is: the photo they, eh, did not want you to see. Enjoy.

It’s a shame that they were told no, because the motivation for doing the photo was sincere and well founded. That’s just the world we live in now, I’m sure if I turned up in work with a Sale Sharks or London Irish shirt I might be asked to cop on.

a bit like those fines for rival mouth guards at the rugby world cup. When was the last time you saw a players mouth guard on the tv and said..... I'm going out to buy 10 of those.

Typical Munster fan in the middle wearing a Munster jersey. She didnt get the memo? Do the women from Munster wear munster jerseys under their Ireland jerseys too?

Yeah, they have all these exclusivity clauses in their sponsorship deals that are ridiculously over the top. It's a shame really (but we'll keep taking the money).

I think it's actually quite disappointing that a women's Rugby team were allowed brandish competitor sports (GAA) jerseys at Twickenham.

We have to begin to respect our own sport more and stop bowing to the GAA who are nothing more than a sectarianist rabble (along county borders anyway).

We shouldn't be giving them any extra publicity or marketing the fact that some Professional rugby players came from GAA backgrounds.

We should beat them into the ground wherever we can on a propaganda level and in any publicity avenues we get.  We should oppose any visual link between the two sports and finally actually get serious about the idea that our two sports aren't and shouldn't be on friendly terms.  We are competitors.

And to show we're ultra serious, we should force the IRFU to wipe all evidence of rugby games being played at Croke Park from their records and sue any broadcasting company that shows snippets of such on any future occasion.

The IRFU were right.  I stand by their pedantry.  Strictly no Blow-Ups, and definitely no increase in Pixelizenisation!!!!

Thats a bit heavy SF!
I just dont understand why GAA jerseys have to be shown to demonstrate diversity.
Surely most of these ladies all play for different clubs - why couldnt diversity be demonstrated by wearing their respective club jerseys? Just a thought.

By the way - story aside - well done Ireland women for the progress made over the last few years. The gap is closing at the top, and good luck for the womens WC.

GunsGerms wrote:Typical Munster fan in the middle wearing a Munster jersey. She didnt get the memo? Do the women from Munster wear munster jerseys under their Ireland jerseys too?

Always proud to wear the jersey, Guns.   (you really need help now you are so paranoid)   

What jersey is Sophie Spence wearing? She is from North East of England I think (and now works for Leinster Rugby).

propdavid_london wrote:Thats a bit heavy SF!
I just dont understand why GAA jerseys have to be shown to demonstrate diversity.  
Surely most of these ladies all play for different clubs - why couldnt diversity be demonstrated by wearing their respective club jerseys?  Just a thought.

By the way - story aside - well done Ireland women for the progress made over the last few years.  The gap is closing at the top, and good luck for the womens WC.

I think they are trying to demonstrate that they are from all over the country. You wouldn't have rugby clubs all over Ireland. If they went for wearing their club jersey, there would only be a few clubs featured then.

A lot of the girls would come from a GAA playing background and have been attracted to rugby because of the opportunity of getting to the Olympics by playing 7s.

Sin é wrote:

What jersey is Sophie Spence wearing? She is from North East of England I think (and now works for Leinster Rugby).

Had the IRFU given into the pressure put on them, we might by now be able to work that one out, with a clearer picture to work on...Blow- Uppable.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Typical Munster fan in the middle wearing a Munster jersey. She didnt get the memo? Do the women from Munster wear munster jerseys under their Ireland jerseys too?

Always proud to wear the jersey, Guns.    (you really need help now you are so paranoid)   

What jersey is Sophie Spence wearing? She is from North East of England I think (and now works for Leinster Rugby).

To the left of the Munster jersey? That's a Leinster jersey.

I have no idea what this nonsense story is about, this is a private photo - how can it be expected to be used in any sort of official capacity when the girls are wearing jersey from another sport containing rival sponsors logos.

Whoever thought this was even news is an idiot. The girls are on official duty here and have responsibilities to their employer and sponsors.

In fact they should be fined for releasing the pictures.

rodders wrote:The girls are on official duty here and have responsibilities to their employer and sponsors.

Are they professional rugby players? I know for a fact that one of them is a cop. She should have worn her cuffs and mace.

I think the photo agency (Inpho) own the images.

Since the girls are amateurs, how can the IRFU own their image rights? They pay BOD & co. huge money to use their images.

Strictly no Blow Up cops should be allowed in any rugby publicity photos.

This is getting on for disgraceful if I hear any more.

Fined is a wee but strong... they pull on the jersey and represent Ireland as amateurs, often making sacrifices in their own personal and professional lives to do so, and they should be fined for a wee bit of craic/team building?

Maybe if they were top-flight, well-paid professionals that'd be a fair argument but you can't fine amateurs for not being professional. Good luck to them.

Did they pay their own expenses to twickenham and pay for their kits? If not they are sponsored athletes with responsibilities to represent the IRFU.

Darn tootin! rodders. +1

Most Olympic athletes are amateur and rely on lottery funding and sports grants.

Like you don't see Jess Ennis standing on a podium wearing a Sheffield Wednesday top, this is crazy talk.

Sack the bloody lot of them and give the money to the groundskeepers and waterboys in the AIL.

rodders wrote:Most Olympic athletes are amateur and rely on lottery funding and sports grants.

Like you don't see Jess Ennis standing on a podium wearing a Sheffield Wednesday top, this is crazy talk.

You will probably see her wearing a Nike top which she is well paid by Nike to wear and she will be drinking some sports drink which she is paid to drink, and wearing runners that she is paid to wear etc. etc.

I don't think any of these ladies get lottery money. They actually have day jobs which supports them.

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:Most Olympic athletes are amateur and rely on lottery funding and sports grants.

Like you don't see Jess Ennis standing on a podium wearing a Sheffield Wednesday top, this is crazy talk.

You will probably see her wearing a Nike top which she is well paid by Nike to wear and she will be drinking some sports drink which she is paid to drink, and wearing runners that she is paid to wear etc. etc.

I don't think any of these ladies get lottery money. They actually have day jobs which supports them.

You're being overly protective of them, Sin.  And being probably guilty of sexism whilst at it.  This is a harsh world.  Sporting decisions must have consequences -even GAA ones, though the consequences are brushed under a ready made carpet in their case.  But the woman's rugby team would learn so much about the realities of rugby if they were indeed fined.  It might stand to them in future competitions.

Fined me hole

Suspensions then...for their next two games.

Mickado wrote:Fined me hole

  

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:Most Olympic athletes are amateur and rely on lottery funding and sports grants.

Like you don't see Jess Ennis standing on a podium wearing a Sheffield Wednesday top, this is crazy talk.

You will probably see her wearing a Nike top which she is well paid by Nike to wear and she will be drinking some sports drink which she is paid to drink, and wearing runners that she is paid to wear etc. etc.

I don't think any of these ladies get lottery money. They actually have day jobs which supports them.

If you accept free kit you are a sponsored athlete and have responsibilities as such, this is nonsensical. You can't just decide to wear your own clothing or promote other sponsors!

Why would a sponsor stump up for the women's rugby team if they are going to wear a different kit in photos?

SecretFly wrote:Suspensions then...for their next two games.

I seem to recall the GAA players having a similar row with the GAA a couple of years ago about sponsorship. The players (GPA) won out and since then you see a lot of GAA players involved in tv promotion, sponsorship etc.

Personally I think it is quite a sweet little picture and am hoping that everyone castigating the players has tongue firmly in cheek.

The sponsors would not care - after all they have actually paid to sponsor the Mens team really and got rather a nice bonus that the womens game was at Twickenham and televised. IRFU come out of it looking, well like RFU often have.

Bloody hell whatever next...Rory McIlroy dandering around wearing Oakleys?!

I think they all should have had to take their jerseys off.

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Suspensions then...for their next two games.

I seem to recall the GAA players having a similar row with the GAA a couple of years ago about sponsorship. The players (GPA) won out and since then you see a lot of GAA players involved in tv promotion, sponsorship etc.

Yeah, they're devious like that, them amateur lads.  Stealing rugby sponsorship from our big shots, right under their noses.  When BOD retires, he's going to find a lot of GAA competition for the watch and boxer ads. He's going to have to keep the BOD well honed.  He doesn't realise it now, but the gym work doesn't stop, not when Gooch is hot on your heals to the photo studio

Sin é wrote:

Mickado wrote:Fined me hole

  

My advice is to look behind you, beneath your back but above your knees.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Mickado wrote:Fined me hole

  

My advice is to look behind you, beneath your back but above your knees.

My advice is that you do not do this, Mick! No hole is worth spasming up a spine to find.

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Suspensions then...for their next two games.

I seem to recall the GAA players having a similar row with the GAA a couple of years ago about sponsorship. The players (GPA) won out and since then you see a lot of GAA players involved in tv promotion, sponsorship etc.

Yeah, they're devious like that, them amateur lads.  Stealing rugby sponsorship from our big shots, right under their noses.  When BOD retires, he's going to find a lot of GAA competition for the watch and boxer ads. He's going to have to keep the BOD well honed.  He doesn't realise it now, but the gym work doesn't stop, not when Gooch is hot on your heals to the photo studio

You mean like Brendan Cummins (former Tipp goalkeeper) and AIB? If they were good, they still get the gig.

I was reading recently some marketing research and they said that ROG is regarded in Ireland in a similar way that Zidane is regarded in France. Thought that was interesting. Failte Ireland are using ROG & Sexton to promote Ireland in France. I think Aer Lingus are sponsoring Sexton as well.

Welcome to Brooding Ireland. The Mystic Land of Frowns, Tantrums and Balls Kickers.

Yeah, it's got a nice ring to it, Sin

How is Zidane regarded in France?

Sin é wrote:
I was reading recently some marketing research and they said that ROG is regarded in Ireland in a similar way that Zidane is regarded in France.

I'm guessing the sample used for said research didn't go far beyond ROGs immediate family circle?

SecretFly wrote:

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Mickado wrote:Fined me hole

  

My advice is to look behind you, beneath your back but above your knees.

My advice is that you do not do this, Mick!  No hole is worth spasming up a spine to find.

From a professional point of view I suggest Notch's idea. Us physios always need the injuries.
From a personal perspective a mirror should make it easier.

GunsGerms wrote:How is Zidane regarded in France?

One of the most popular sports people in France.

edit: they had a statue of him doing his world cup head butt outside the Pompidou Centre in Paris at one stage.

rodders wrote:

Sin é wrote:
I was reading recently some marketing research and they said that ROG is regarded in Ireland in a similar way that Zidane is regarded in France.

I'm guessing the sample used for said research didn't go far beyond ROGs immediate family circle?

No, the research extended to the waiting list of a couple of hundred for his London testimonial   

Statues for sports stars are ridiculous.

Are they? And who are statues not ridiculous for?

There should be one of Cantona saying hello to the mouthy fan in Manchester. Ahhh...the good old days of genuine classic characters in Premiership football.

SecretFly wrote:Are they?  And who are statues not ridiculous for?

Historically anachronistic prostitutes.

GunsGerms wrote:Statues for sports stars are ridiculous.

I don't know. It reflects life.

Headbutt
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/847410/thumbs/o-MATERAZZI-570.jpg?4

Christy Ring
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2364/2480556948_c47cf5d3f0_n.jpg

Red Rum
http://www.jockeysite.com/stories/redrumestatua.jpg

Molly Malone
https://www.google.ie/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x48670e9b72495845:0xca98de5dcaa44953!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttp://www.panoramio.com/photo/20799307!5smolly+malone+statue+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=BOgVU4mAEfLo7Aa43oHACw&ved=0CJ4BEKIqMAs

It would take balls to build a statue of ROG.

rodders wrote:It would take balls to build a statue of ROG.

If they do build one, they should take this pose:

Spoiler:

With the caption to just read - "RADGE!"

And when people pass by it they'd shout "RADGE - Oh ohohoooohohohohoooooo" to the tune of "Jet" by Wings.

rodders wrote:It would take balls to build a statue of ROG.

Why not a Bord Failte funded one with Sexton 'larging it' over him on that fateful day. And ship it to France like they shipped the Liberty Statue to America - as a sign of our enduring bonds of resistence to Top14 money.

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Suspensions then...for their next two games.

I seem to recall the GAA players having a similar row with the GAA a couple of years ago about sponsorship. The players (GPA) won out and since then you see a lot of GAA players involved in tv promotion, sponsorship etc.

Yeah, they're devious like that, them amateur lads.  Stealing rugby sponsorship from our big shots, right under their noses.  When BOD retires, he's going to find a lot of GAA competition for the watch and boxer ads. He's going to have to keep the BOD well honed.  He doesn't realise it now, but the gym work doesn't stop, not when Gooch is hot on your heals to the photo studio

Why would a former English cricketer who plugged his hair transplant be hot on the heels of our BOD. And what sort of Kerry jersey is one of the girls in the back row of the picture wearing - its pink ffs. Can't ever imagine the Bomber or Jacko wearing a pink county jersey, maybe Galvin though or even that little weasel Spillane