Rugby legend Nick honoured with ceremonial Lions cap
IT has been an incredible year for Irish rugby.
In the midst of Ireland defeating the mighty All Blacks for the first time on Irish soil, Ireland being named world team of the year and Johnny Sexton being named world player of the year, Wexford’s Nick Popplewell was given a night to remember ofhisown.
Nick and his family gathered at Greystones Rugby Club recently where Nick was presented with his British & Irish Lions Cap for the 1993 tour by then-captain Gavin Hastings, who made the trip over from Scotland for this special occasion.
Nick travelled up to his old club from his home in Wexford where he has been living for many years, working with Adrian Haythornthwaite at Sherry FitzGerald Haythornthwaite auctioneers.
Earlier this year, the British & Irish Lions decided to award ceremonial caps to past and present players, so this special occasion saw plenty of smiles and reminiscing about beating the All Blacks on that ’93 tour, giving Popplewell his solitary victory over the All Blacks, despite having played them on six occasions
‘This is magic, we were a proud and honoured club as we hosted the Popplewell family for this incredible event,’ said Club President, Rory O’Connor.
Popplewell played with Gorey
TADHG FURLONG HAS SHOWN REAL PROFESSIONALISM THAT HAS HELPED HIM BECOME THE BEST TIGHT HEAD PROP IN THE WORLD -
RFC from 1982 to 1984 and Greystones from 1984 to 1997, while he played with Leinster from 1987 to 1997, and Ireland from 1989 to 1998, winning 48 caps for his country. He played his final three years as a professional with Newcastle Falcons, where he made 19 appearances as they won the 1997/’98 Premiership.
Gavin Hastings, the 1993 tour captain, spoke of Popplewell’s contribution to the Lions, specifying that the tighthead prop started in all three tests.
Reflecting back on his career, Popplewell said: ‘During that time, the Lions never gave caps, but after your first international you received an Ireland cap and also received a cap after your first World Cup game.
‘I was number 654, with some 700 players receiving caps. I received my Lions cap in the post a few months back. It was a nice gesture to have the presentation in Greystones Rugby Club. It gave me an opportunity to meet up with Gavin (Hastings) once again, while I also met with so many past members and players from the club – people I had not seen for a long time. It was a lovely night, a most enjoyable one, with much reminiscing over the past while also so much talk of the present and the game with the All Blacks.’
Popplewell reflected on the changing times in rugby, particularly Irish rugby.
‘The difference now playing the All Blacks is one has to believe. I did not think we would beat the All Blacks with Conor Murray not playing. But we had 21 players believing, believing they could beat the All Blacks. That’s the difference.
‘It was just an incredible occasion. It was also incredible to prevent the All Blacks from scoring a try. When was that last achieved? The atmosphere, the intensity of the game from start to finish, was something else. You get that in these games because you only play the likes of the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa every two years. It was an electric occasion, a very proud occasion for rugby and Irish sport in general.’
Popplewell hailed Wexford’s Tadhg Furlong as the best tight head prop in the world.
‘Tadhg had his opposite number under pressure from the first scrum. You could see him getting under him, the All Blacks prop had no place to go only up.
‘Tadhg achieved this despite being two to three stone lighter, but he has tremendous technique which all comes through quality coaching.
‘His hands would do justice to any quality centre. He had one fantastic pick-up off his toes and lay off. It was something special. He is now a special player, an integral part of that magnificent Irish pack.’
On the professional game, Popplewell, who spent his final three years as a professional player, said: ‘The game has taken on a whole new dimension. In the past, Ireland were always brilliant for 50 minutes but gone after that. That’s no longer. It’s a different game now, as your life is dictated seven days a week.
‘Look at Leinster and their player pool. No club in the world has a player pool like Leinster. Some of their players are moving to other provinces for game time to enhance their international careers.
‘Tadhg (Furlong) is part of a professional era but credit to him he has shown real professionalism and huge intensity that has helped him become the best tight had prop in the World. He even showed that quality on the Lions tour two years back,’ Popplewell said.
Now Ireland can look forward to the Six Nations Championship in the new year leading into the World Cup in the summer carrying the mantle of the top rugby nation in the world.