A complaint from the French Rugby Federation over a perceived snub of its committee members at the Aviva Stadium over the weekend has given a good insight into how well looked after administrators are at at big matches.
It was most likely a side swipe at Irish Rugby’s rival bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 but in explaining how they were not snubbed the IRFU’s Stephen McNamara also indicated that when you go to a game as a visiting dignitary you will certainly not go hungry.
On Friday both Committees, of up to 50 members, had a dinner in South County Dublin. The on the day of the game there was a lunch for 400 at the stadium to which visiting committee members, officials and sponsors were all invited to as well.
They watched the game and while the room was being set for dinner they enjoyed a free tab in an exclusive bar area alongside sponsors, players family and friends.
Once dinner was served for that same large number they all ate together though McNamara suggested in today’s irish Times that maybe because the group was so big that they did not see their opposite committee members.
Coming on the same day on which administrators of the GAA were being hauled over the coals of public opinion for their voting in change at the Annual Congress it was a tough 24 hours for sports administrators.
Then again as the old saying goes ‘into every life a little rain must fall..’ We think the French committee members will get over their tutting about the lunch and have no doubt that their English counterparts in three weeks time will be treated impeccably.
