My first Ireland rugby tour was to South Africa in 2004, an experience that proved to be as much a culture shock on the pitch as off. The sheltered life of a young lad from Wexford by way of south Dublin was light years removed from the sights and sounds of Bloemfontein and Cape Town, where a melting pot of cultures converged.
South African rugby supporters bring an intensity and passion that occasionally manifests in a bizarre context as was the case with one abiding memory from that tour. The Ireland team bus stopped outside the giant gates of Vodacom Park as it was then in Bloemfontein waiting to be admitted when we became aware of a violent rocking motion.
The locals had decided to welcome us by pushing the bus from side to side, a reminder that we were on their turf. It wasn’t the only time that I was buffeted that day. The match posed huge physical challenges. Space was at a premium; the hits were late and not unduly concerned whether the ball was around or not.
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- April 27, 2022
