Friends of Connacht Protest March.

A crowd, estimated by Gardai, of 1200, marched on the offices of the IRFU yesterday in protest at rumoured plans to cut funding that would see an end to the professional arm of Connacht rugby.

A crowd, estimated by Gardai, of 1200, marched on the offices of the IRFU yesterday in protest at rumoured plans to cut funding that would see an end to the professional arm of Connacht rugby.

The crowd gathered in Baggot Street and then proceeded to the IRFU headquarters at Lansdowne Road where Chief Executive, Philip Browne was on hand to accept a letter and signed petition.
“This clearly shows the passion that is in Irish sport,” he said of the massed crowd outside. “It also shows that there is a genuine concern out there and we’ve got to take that on board.”

The protest was set to co-incide with the scheduled Committee meeting of the IRFU, but that meeting had already been postponed in order to hear submission from the Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) and proposals from the Connacht Branch.