Former Irish international John Hayes has recalled the emotions that surrounded Ireland’s first ever match in Croke Park against England back in 2017.
Hayes was speaking with Joe Molloy at our OTB Roadshow in Bruff RFC.
“It was the crowd, like. You’ll hear about people, you could actually feel the atmosphere that day. It was two weeks leading into the game. The whole country was talking about it.
The former prop says he could taste the atmosphere before the game. He says the difference in public opinion about a rugby game being played on such historic turf there was a key factor that added to atmosphere that day.
“From different points of view, some people thought it was great playing there, and other people - who are entitled to their opinion - thought maybe we shouldn’t have been allowed in there, the real GAA people felt we might not have been in, to play there,’ said Hayes.
“The Bull” says the team knew their responsibility heading into that game. He says it was a privilege just to be a part of such a historic occasion.
"You felt that responsibility, that you knew it was going to be a big occasion, and just to be a part of it.
Hayes famously burst into tears during the rendition of Amhran NaBhfiann. The former Lions prop says there was plenty of other men in tears during the playing of the anthem.
“You probably didn’t even realize it was coming but you couldn’t stop it, it just happens, like. You could feel it out of the crowd. It wasn’t just me. I guarantee you in the crowd, the cameras were looking the other way, and there was a lot of fellas in the crowd doing the same because the atmosphere was unbelievable."
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