It started a theory that most recently led Neil Francis of this parish to preach "we are now following suit with New Zealand in welcoming it as our national game". Irish people for the most part in this lazy era of event junkies and occasion appearances don't love rugby, or any sport for that matter, they love winning. That doesn't scream a national sport and it doesn't scream a people's game. In Ireland today there are around 2,500 GAA clubs, 2,800 soccer clubs in the Republic alone (although registration is like the wild west) 450 cycling clubs, 430 golf clubs, but 224 rugby clubs. Thus it's not the national game, and that should be fine.

Source: Irish Independent March 29, 2018 18:00 UTC