Rugby
O’Reilly gearing up for another stint with Lions
By Daire Walsh
AN EXCITING couple of months lie in store for the ubiquitous Patrick ‘Rala’ O’Reilly as the British & Irish Lions prepare themselves for a Tour like no other.
Born in Inchicore – before moving with his family to Templeogue at a young age – O’Reilly has once again been named as Bagman for the Lions’ impending trip to South Africa in the months of July and August. In doing so, he will be embarking on his fourth consecutive Tour with the composite team.
Having originally joined the set-up for the previous visit to South Africa 12 years ago, he also served as bagman for the subsequent Tours to Australia and New Zealand in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
For that maiden journey with the Lions back in 2009, O’Reilly was working in a backroom team that was headed up by Scotland’s Ian McGeechan. Warren Gatland acted as Forwards Coach on that particular Tour and when he succeeded McGeechan in the hot seat four years later, he ensured O’Reilly continued in his role.
This came as little surprise, given Gatland was always familiar with O’Reilly prior to that 2009 series against the Springboks. Although best known across rugby circles for his work with Wasps and Wales, the New Zealander enjoyed a three-year stint as Ireland head coach (1998-2001).
‘Rala’ had become bagman for the national team in 1994 when his fellow Terenure College alum Gerry Murphy was at the helm and remained a constant presence in the camp until finally calling it a day in the aftermath of the 2015 World Cup.
It with his local club, Terenure College RFC, that O’Reilly was first introduced to the role of bagman in the early 1980s. He later progressed to a similar position within Leinster’s underage and adult set-ups, before the national side came calling.
The camaraderie he developed with the players in both the Ireland and Lions squads is one of the principle reasons why Gatland was so keen to include him in his plans for the Covid-restricted journey to South Africa.
Eight Irish players in total have been included in the 37-man Lions squad, but there are also some notable omissions. Despite being a key figure for the unbeaten Tours in 2013 and 2017, St Mary’s College club man Jonathan Sexton has been left out with Gatland showing preference for the triumvirate of Owen Farrell (England), Dan Biggar (Wales) and Finn Russell (Scotland).