WILL HE STAY or will he go? The speculation surrounding Ronan O’Gara’s international future continued yesterday as the out-half and most of his Irish team-mates returned home from New Zealand.
Heading up the list of potential retirees was O’Gara. Immediately after the historic pool win over Australia, the Munster man indicated that he had decided to hang up his boots at the end of the tournament, saying “I’m done with Ireland in a few weeks.”
He later rowed back on that statement, claiming that his words were misinterpreted. And yesterday, speaking to RTÉ’s Pascal Sheehy after touching down in Cork Airport, the country’s leading points scorer hinted that it would be very difficult for him to turn his back on international rugby.
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“Irish rugby’s been so good to me, you don’t walk away from that,” O’Gara said.
The other side of it is that I’m 34 and new talent is coming through, so we’ll see what happens but you don’t ever turn your back on a great country.
It is time funding was put in place for suicide awareness got proper funding from the state, at least twice as many people die from suicide than on our roads, yet we have massive funding trying to get speeders and drinks drivers to obey the law
The issue of a man discussing any sort of problem related to mental health was until recently taboo. I don’t know if it was only an irish state of mind or if it is spread across other countries.
Thankfully some fairly high profile stars have come out recently speaking of their fight with depression and various other mental health issues.
Whether you be a man woman or child reading this, do not suffer in silence. A problem shared is a problem halved.
When most young lads dream of playing for their county and been a star that its the pinnacle, but still behind it is this sadness and which leads to suicide.
Still makes me incredibly sad to read this story.
The warning signs were there for this young man in previous years from what I know. He had sought help. But depression is an insidious beast and cuts the strongest of us down. This poor young man has found peace. In time I hope his family come to find it as well.
Exactly Jason, its a disease and you can’t tell anyone to “cop on, your parents, friends etc will miss u” doesn’t fix it as it doesn’t fix any disease.
He had a lot of underlying issues.
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Tragic. Not afraid to say I had some serious “issues” when I was younger but thankfully I got the help I needed.
Not easy but I’m still here, healthy and happy…
Its ok not to be ok.
Young men need to start speaking up to prevent anymore future or current stars losing their own battles.
A tragic loss.
It is time funding was put in place for suicide awareness got proper funding from the state, at least twice as many people die from suicide than on our roads, yet we have massive funding trying to get speeders and drinks drivers to obey the law
That’s the trouble with suicide, it’s horribly unpredictable buisness, sad story
The issue of a man discussing any sort of problem related to mental health was until recently taboo. I don’t know if it was only an irish state of mind or if it is spread across other countries.
Thankfully some fairly high profile stars have come out recently speaking of their fight with depression and various other mental health issues.
Whether you be a man woman or child reading this, do not suffer in silence. A problem shared is a problem halved.
When most young lads dream of playing for their county and been a star that its the pinnacle, but still behind it is this sadness and which leads to suicide.
Still makes me incredibly sad to read this story.
The warning signs were there for this young man in previous years from what I know. He had sought help. But depression is an insidious beast and cuts the strongest of us down. This poor young man has found peace. In time I hope his family come to find it as well.
Exactly Jason, its a disease and you can’t tell anyone to “cop on, your parents, friends etc will miss u” doesn’t fix it as it doesn’t fix any disease.
He had a lot of underlying issues.
RIP
Well said Damien. Best of luck in next match
Sad