Josh van der Flier recalls hilarious first memory of the British & Irish Lions from his childhood
JOSH van der Flier accidentally taped over a home movie to record the Lions' 2005 whitewash by the All Blacks.
But the Ireland flanker is hoping his family can watch footage of a series triumph in Australia this summer.
3
The former UCD RFC player missed out on Lions selection in 2017 and 2021
3
The Leinster flanker returned from injury to score a try in the URC final
3
The Wicklow native has a funny memory around the 2005 edition of the Lions
Credit: Sportsfile
The Wicklow native, 32, was
Before departing for Down Under last Saturday, van der Flier helped host a training session for 90 kids in UCD.
And VDF revealed how there was a VHS mishap as the then-12-year-old attempted to record the
The Leinster star explained: 'We didn't have the channels in my house but my grandparents lived across the road, so we would go and watch the Lions.
Read more on Irish sport
'I would have been quite young. I distinctly remember 2005. We had a family video and we taped over it by mistake! It was Lions against New Zealand that year, would that be right? We didn't have the TV channels and it was on cassettes.
'It was either that or Star Wars or something! It wouldn't have been something I verbalised but I watched games on TV.
'Then you go straight out to the garden and you pretend to be someone who is playing for the Lions or Ireland. It's probably the pinnacle.'
Van der Flier made his Leinster debut in 2014 and earned his first Ireland cap in 2016 against England, going on to make 72 appearances in the green jersey since.
Most read in Rugby Union
But for a time in 2021, he was behind his Leinster team-mate Will Connors in Andy Farrell's Ireland pecking order.
A knee injury ruled Connors out for the 2022 season and opened the door for van der Flier, who grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants'
So the flanker recognises how much of an achievement it is to get the Lions nod from Farrell now.
He said: It's hard to compare with playing for your country. But it is a very hard thing to do. It's pretty cool.'
The Lions face Australia in the first Test at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on July 19.
Farrell's troops will travel to Melbourne a week later 26 for a clash at the MCG before the final Test takes place in Sydney on August 2.
Should Van der Flier start, he will be doing his best to counteract a game-plan devised by Australia chief Joe Schmidt, who gave him his Ireland bow nine years ago.
Having faced Schmidt's Wallabies
Van der Flier said: 'They were pretty impressive when we played them in November.
'Joe is an incredible coach. He will have them very well organised and with a few tricks up their sleeve as well. It will be a big challenge.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Kneecap pack out Glastonbury stage & lead crowd in chants against Keir Starmer as defiant rapper roars ‘I'm a free man'
DEFIANT Kneecap member Mo Chara roared, 'Glastonbury, I'm a free man!' as the Irish rap trio took to the West Holts Stage at the festival. The Gaelgoir group, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was 6 Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap performing on the West Holts stage Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage 6 DJ Provaí on stage during the one hour performance Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage 6 Tens of thousands attended the Kneecap performance earlier today Credit: Matt Crossick/Empics/Alamy Live News News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was Member Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action' in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ Rap punk duo Bob Vylan performed on the stage before Kneecap and led the crowd in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF'. In the run up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several British politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and UK prime minister Keir Starmer said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. Earlier today, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later. A BBC spokesperson said: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN 'While the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines. Fury as Glastonbury crowd chants 'death to the IDF' during Bob Vylan set aired live on BBC 'We don't always live-stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.' Earlier the band said on Instagram: 'The propaganda wing of the regime has just contacted us…. 'They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the iPlayer later this evening for your viewing pleasure.' During their set at Glastonbury today, Mo Chara said: "The BBC editor is going to have some job." MORE PERFORMANCES O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. On June 18th, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. Also playing on Saturday afternoon were Leeds rock band Kaiser Chiefs and US star Brandi Carlile, who released an album with Elton John earlier in the year. Irish singer CMAT, who played the Pyramid Stage on Friday, performed a secret set at the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday. Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, headlined the Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC broadcast Young's set after previously saying it would not be shown 'at the artist's request'. 6 The West Holts stage was shut off before the performance to avoid a crowd crush Credit: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News 6 The group's much-anticipated appearance at Glastonbury had been criticised by PM Sir Keir Starmer Credit: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News 6 Groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags in front of the stage Credit: Matt Crossick/Empics/Alamy Live News
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish powerhouse trainers Mullins and Elliott spend big at Derby Sale
Irish powerhouse trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott spent close to €2 million between them at a two-day sale this week. While the focus switches to flat racing during the summer, it is time for restocking for jumps trainers as they try to unearth the next big equine talent. And Mullins and Elliott both dived deep into the pockets at the Tattersalls Derby Sale, where many beautifully bred store horses were on offer. Mullins bought nine unraced horses for a total of €1,230,000, including a €180,000 purchase of a Nathaniel gelding from Castledillon Agent. The Carlow trainer's long-time bloodstock agent Harold Kirk said of the purchase: 'It has been hard to get a Nathaniel out of a jumping pedigree, and this horse is out of a Poliglote mare, which I love, and it is a very good jumping family – Don Lino lower down the pedigree was a top horse in France.' He added: 'A lot of the Nathaniels who have gone jumping are out of Flat mares so you're hoping that, when they have jumping pedigrees, they will be even better. 'All the horses I am buying here will be purchased with the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper in mind – moving the race to a December date works well for us and it gives us options.' Gordon Elliott, meanwhile, bought three horses for a total of €510,000. The Meath handler's biggest buy was a €235,000 Blue Bresil gelding, who is on the same cross as the sire's superstar son Constitution Hill. Elliott, who was alongside Eddie O'Leary in the sales ring, said: "He is a lovely athletic horse, one we have been waiting for all week. "We will get him home now and broken in. His half-brother, Handstands, is a very talented horse." €17,576,000 changed hands at the Derby Sale. Four horses were sold for over €200,000 with a Walk In The Park gelding out of Posh Trish (Lot 338) topping the sale at €285,000.
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Climbers finish 5-peak challenge at Croagh Patrick in memory of young Mayo man
MORE THAN 100 climbers gathered at the summit of Croagh Patrick today for a special blessing to mark the final ascent of a 5-peak challenge honouring the life of James McNeive. Mr McNeive, a native of Knock in Co Mayo, was killed in a road traffic accident last year at the age of 28. The McNeive family organised the 5-peak challenge to raise funds for a number of causes close to James's heart, spanning from charities to local schools and clubs, including ones where James had either taught as a schoolteacher or played. Beginning on Mr McNeive's birthday, 24 June, the five peaks were Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, Snowdon in Wales, Carrauntoohil in Co Kerry, and concluded today at Croagh Patrick in his home county of Mayo. A core team of 30 took part in all five climbs of Summit for James, which included Mr McNeive's mother Bernadette, his siblings, cousins, close friends, and teammates from Aghamore GAA. 'All participants self-funded their travel and expenses, ensuring that every cent raised (excluding iDonate platform fees) goes directly to a group of causes that James supported or was personally connected to,' a spokeswoman for the climb said. James's younger brother Matthew, who lives with kidney failure, managed to participate in three of the five peaks despite his dialysis. Advertisement Brothers Matthew McNeive, left, and James who passed away in August 2024. 'James had this rare ability to light up any room and lift the people around him, whether you were a friend, a student or a stranger,' Matthew said. 'He had a deep love for his school communities and his local GAA club. That's why the charities we've chosen reflect his passions — teaching, mental health, sport, a children's charity, and of course the Irish Kidney Association, because he never liked to see me struggle. He always wanted to do something to help and supported organ donation.' Knock's Parish Priest Father Richard Gibbons blessed the crowd that gathered for the final climb today. The McNeive family: mother Bernadette, twins Michael and Matthew with (2nd from left) Colin White, the National Advocacy & Projects Manager of the Irish Kidney Association. To date, the challenge has raised over €124,000, with funds going to: Irish Heart Foundation; Make-A-Wish Ireland; Daisy Lodge (Cancer Fund for Children); Mayo Mindspace (youth mental health); and the Irish Kidney Association. A climb of a Mount Maroon near Brisbane in Australia by Irish people living in the area took place last week in solidarity. The McNeive family hope that the 5 Peak Challenge will be 'the first of many events under the newly formed James McNeive Foundation, which aims to continue supporting the causes James cared deeply about'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
