Growth Of Rugby In The Emerald Isle

The Irish have started this six nations confidently, with a convincing win against Scotland. The Joe Schmidt era has certainly got off to a good start, consistency is what the Irish have lacked in previous years, this is what Schmidt seems to be adding. So now that the present set up is in a good position, it is time to take a look at how Irish rugby got here in the first place.

Ireland are one of three nations to have played in every single championship, from the home nations, to the five and to the six nations as we know it today. This is something the Irish, the Scots and the Welsh will always have over England because they chose not to compete in 1888 and 1889. So the history of Irish rugby is rich.

Although Munster is said to be the home of rugby in Ireland, it was in Dublin that the game was originally played. It had spread through English public schooling, as a few crossed the Irish sea to come to Universities in Dublin they brought the game with them. The first team was set up in Dublin Univerisity as early as 1854. However, bizarrely the first 15 a side match was not until 23 years later, a long pre-season in anyone's book.

Rugby was quickly taken up in Ireland because of the similarities it shared with Gaelic sports, like Gaelic football and particularly Caid. Caid almost gave way to rugby, but they were very similar, both involved scrummages with forwards, and the basic tactic of quicker players as wingers. Although these basics were in place Caid was often played cross country over fields and hedges, I can't see a hedgerow being planted at the Aviva any time soon.

These were still very much the early years of rugby, the first international Ireland played was as early as early as 1875 against England. In 1884 Ireland traveled to Cardiff in the second ever home nations championship. However, they traveled two men short. On arrival in the Welsh capital they only had 13 men and had to borrow two Welsh players. This story of the amateur day is refreshing in today's ever increasing professionalism. Although Ireland never repaid the favour and a hark back to the old days would be welcomed by the Welsh this weekend to see Johnny Sexton commanding the back line.

As rugby grew in popularity in Ireland more companies began to use the success of the game in advertisement. A company that did this more than any other was Guinness. Still a part of Irish rugby to this day, Guinness has had a long relationship with Irish rugby.

The were two separate designs to this poster the traditional 'Guinness for Strength' slogan, or the 'That's the Stuff' version. Either way who can fault a bottle of the Black stuff coming out of the back of a scrum?

The 'Guinness for Strength' is an interesting phrase and the Irish prepare to take on Wales this weekend. The beer of choice for the Welsh rugby team is of course Brains. If Guinness is for strength then on the weekend it is surely a case of Brains against Brawn?