Also known as an ‘up-and-under’ or ‘bomb’, we delve into the origins of the high kick in rugby, a term made famous by the legendary commentator Bill McLaren.
The “Garryowen,” as it’s commonly referred to, is named after the club Garryowen, based in Limerick, where former Ireland fly-half Tony Ward once played.
One fan wrote on Twitter: “Wait, there isn’t a bloke called Garry Owen? I feel so lost,”
The tactic of the Garryowen kick was popularized by Garryowen RFC in the 1920s when they clinched the Munster Senior Cup in 1924, 1925, and 1926.
The kick involves sending the ball high into the air, creating an opportunity for players to contest and regain possession.
Commentator McLaren, known as the ‘Voice of Rugby,’ often referenced Tony Ward’s Garryowen kick during his commentaries, highlighting the player’s club affiliation as he executed the kick on the field.
Today, rugby fans continue to use the term “Garryowen” to describe this skillful and strategic move in the game.
“Horror draw” – England get pool of death in revised World Cup draw
The recently released World Rugby Rankings highlight the absurdity of the Pool Draw for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023, which was determined three years in advance and appears to be heavily skewed.
In response to criticism, World Rugby has announced that future pool draws for the Rugby World Cup will be conducted closer to the start of the tournament, as the current practice of relying on team rankings at the time of the draw is deemed unfair.
As a result, the guys over at Eggchasers Rugby put together their own drawer the 2023 tournament based on the current World Rugby rankings.
Concentrating on only the top 10 countries in the world, it looks significant.
It was very different with England handed a much sterner test in their pool. Watch the full video here.
POOL A actual draw:
- France
- New Zealand
POOL A up to date draw
- France
- Australia