A fan recently asked: Why is there a Northern Ireland national football team but no Northern Ireland national rugby union team?
This is an interesting question with historical roots. The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) was founded in 1879, long before Ireland's political split.
At that time, Ireland was a single entity under British rule. The division of Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland occurred later, with the Irish Free State established in 1922 and later becoming the Republic of Ireland in 1937.
Despite the political division, the IRFU remained as it was, representing the entire island of Ireland in rugby.
Therefore, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland still play together under a unified team in rugby, unlike in football, where separate teams represent Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony named rugby union’s dirtiest player
Fans have been ranking who they consider the dirtiest players in the game today. In some cases it seems unpopularity saw them picked while other stars have been named and shamed for their thuggish actions on the field.
#5. Owen Farrell (England)
Could it be anybody else to start? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him.
The England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.
Although he's currently serving a two-match ban, the fact he often seems to get away with it doesn't help either.
Owen Farrell facts:
The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
#4. Dan Biggar (Wales)
Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career. It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.
#3. Nic White (Australia)
White has become arguably the most unpopular player in world rugby over the past 12 months..
Last year, White fell about like a lion had attempted to rip off his face after Faf de Klerk accidentally made contact with it while attempting to dislodge the ball out of his hands as he attempted a pass.
After consulting with the television match official, referee Paul Williams adjudicated that this warranted a yellow card for de Klerk.
This decision sent the world of rugby into meltdown, with criticism coming from all quarters aimed at White for bringing the game into disrepute.
#2. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.
#1. Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
A flanker that plays on the edge and never fails to get under the skin of opposition fans.
His late hit on Stuart Hogg and foul-mouthed war of words with the Kyle Sinckler during the 2019 Six Nations did him no favours. The sort of player you love to have, but also love to hate.
Will Greenwood once wrote: "If all the wild horsemen of the apocalypse came around the corner O'Mahony would charge straight back at them."
The peak of his s***houser was O'Mahony saying to All Blacks flanker Sam Cane: "Who do you think you are? You're a sh** Richie McCaw,"
One fan wrote of the Ireland flanker: "O'Mahony is the sh**housiest sh**house to ever sh** a house."
