Photo: Central Press/Getty ImagesThat opened the door to Willie John listing off the Lions backline from 1971: “Gareth Edwards, Barry John, John Dawes, Mike Gibson, David Duckham and Gerald Davies, with JPR Williams at the back.”Even at 85, the names came easily to him. They became household names across Ireland at the same time that the number of Limerick rugby players in the Munster academy dropped. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via GettyThe Limerick hurlers made winning All-Irelands look routine as they continually snatched victory from the jaws of Cork, Clare, Tipp, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny. Similarly, the Ireland rugby team was not operating at full throttle in 2025, certainly when compared to the heights of 2023 and 2024. I’d compare the Limerick hurlers’ dip – as it is no demise – to Leinster.

Source: The Irish Times December 26, 2025 15:40 UTC