Sir, – David Murphy (August 18th) chooses to ignore that the Irish rugby team consists of representatives from two countries ie. the Republic and Northern Ireland. The team is organised, sponsored, administered and selected by an all-island administrative body – the Irish Rugby Football Union. It is entirely appropriate then that the anthem played before games represents the two-country, twin-nationality make-up of the team. It would be wrong and triumphalist to recognise just one side of our very proud international rugby tradition.
We are unique in world rugby terms in having players from two different jurisdictions coming together under one flag and one name – Ireland. Let's fully get behind this team in their upcoming games by singing with gusto Ireland's Call.We're not making an international political statement in New Zealand, but I hope we will make an all-Ireland rugby statement. – Yours, etc,