Five new facts from rugby’s left field

Did you know?

The Garryowen Club in Limerick is the only club in the world to lend its name to a part of the game – the up and under high kick that is now known as the Garryowen.
The club, which counts Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan and former Irish captain Keith Wood among its former players, first used the technique of punting the ball high into the air in the 1890s, much to the delight of the passionate home crowd baying for blood. On seeing the Garryowen for the first time, one visitor to Ireland remarked: “Them Garryowen men are devils!”

Did you know?

Irish full-back D.B. Walkington, who appeared for the Emerald Isle from 1887, had a rather unusual playing style, even for the game’s formative years. He wore a monocle during the game and before each tackle was made he would remove the eye-piece, make the hit and then replace it. Walkington was also the first Irishman to score from a drop goal during a match.

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The word ‘try’ came from the very early days of the sport when the main object and only way of scoring was kicking the ball between the posts. Touching the ball down over the goal-line – the touchdown as it was then called – allowed a side to ‘try’ for the conversion kick. As the years wore on, the ‘try’ became more important than the kick, which is pretty good news, really.

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The 1950 tour of New Zealand marked the final time the British and Irish Lions travelled by boat instead of flying. On their outward journey, the touring party passed through the Panama Canal and returned home via the Suez Canal, meaning they had circumnavigated the globe.
According to lore, the players took full advantage of the catering on the ship with many of them putting on at least a stone in weight. Replacement player Lewis Jones was the first British Lion to fly from the UK to a tour.

Did you know?

Outstanding Coventry, England and British Lions wing David Duckham officially rates as one of the most under-used players in international history. After making his debut against Ireland in 1969, Duckham won 36 caps for his country.
Yet during that time, statistics show he received an average of fewer than three passes per game. It is an indication of his excellent skills that he managed to turn so little ball into 10 international tries.